Whistleblower Attorney in New York, NY
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False Claims Attorney New York
You’ve seen something wrong. Maybe it’s Medicare fraud at your healthcare facility. Securities violations at your financial firm. Government contract fraud. Tax evasion. The kind of wrongdoing that costs taxpayers millions.
Here’s what most people don’t realize: the government wants to hear from you. And they’re willing to pay substantial rewards for information that leads to successful prosecutions. We’re talking about 15-30% of whatever the government recovers.
In New York alone, whistleblowers have received millions in awards. The SEC has paid over $1 billion to whistleblowers since 2012. These aren’t small settlements—individual awards have reached tens of millions of dollars.
Qui Tam Attorney New York
We bring three decades of high-stakes legal experience to whistleblower cases in New York. John Howley has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and secured an $80 million settlement in one of the largest employment discrimination cases in history.
Before founding our firm, John spent 20 years representing major corporations like Pfizer, Texaco, and Citibank. He knows how big companies think and operate. That insider knowledge becomes your advantage when we’re fighting for your whistleblower case.
New York’s position as the financial capital of the world means we see complex fraud schemes that other attorneys might miss. Securities manipulation. Commodities fraud. Healthcare billing schemes that span multiple states. We’ve handled them all.
Whistleblower Law New York Process
Every whistleblower case starts with a confidential consultation. You tell us what you’ve witnessed. We evaluate the strength of your information and determine which laws apply—Federal False Claims Act, SEC whistleblower program, CFTC program, or New York’s False Claims Act.
If we move forward, we file your case under seal. This means it stays confidential while the government investigates. You’re protected by anonymity during this critical phase. The government has up to 60 days to decide whether to intervene, though complex cases often take longer.
Throughout the process, we handle all communications with government agencies. We gather additional evidence, interview witnesses, and build the strongest possible case. If the government recovers money, you receive your percentage of the award. If you face retaliation at work, we pursue separate claims to protect your career and secure compensation for any damages.
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Retaliation Attorney New York
New York whistleblowers have unique protections and opportunities. The state’s False Claims Act is one of the most powerful in the country, allowing triple damages plus penalties of $6,000 to $12,000 per violation. New York is also the only state that explicitly covers tax fraud under its False Claims Act.
If you work in New York’s financial district, you have access to multiple federal programs. The SEC whistleblower program covers securities violations. The CFTC program addresses commodities fraud. Each has different requirements and reward structures.
New York Labor Law Section 740 protects you from retaliation. If your employer fires, demotes, or harasses you for reporting illegal activity, you can recover back pay, reinstatement, attorney fees, and punitive damages. You have two years to file retaliation claims under state law, but federal deadlines can be as short as 30 days.
How much money can I receive as a whistleblower in New York?
Whistleblower awards typically range from 15-30% of the government’s total recovery. The exact percentage depends on several factors: how much you contributed to the case, whether you provided ongoing assistance, and whether the government intervened in your lawsuit.
In New York, we’ve seen individual awards reach millions of dollars. The largest SEC whistleblower award was over $100 million. Even smaller cases can result in substantial payments—awards of $500,000 to $2 million are common in healthcare fraud cases.
The key is having strong, original information that leads to a significant government recovery. Cases involving ongoing fraud schemes, large dollar amounts, or systemic violations tend to produce the highest awards.
What types of fraud can I report as a whistleblower?
New York whistleblowers can report a wide range of fraud and illegal activity. Healthcare fraud is common—billing Medicare or Medicaid for services not provided, unnecessary procedures, or kickbacks to doctors. Financial fraud includes securities violations, accounting fraud, and investment scams.
Government contract fraud involves overbilling, providing defective products, or lying about compliance with contract terms. Tax fraud cases are particularly strong in New York since the state False Claims Act explicitly covers tax violations for businesses with over $1 million in income.
Other reportable violations include environmental crimes, customs fraud, defense contractor fraud, and pharmaceutical companies marketing drugs for unapproved uses. The common thread is fraud against government programs or violations of federal securities laws.
Will my employer find out that I filed a whistleblower case?
Whistleblower cases are filed under seal, meaning they remain confidential while the government investigates. Your employer won’t know about the case during this initial period, which can last months or even years for complex investigations.
If you choose to remain anonymous, you can file through your attorney without revealing your identity to the government initially. However, if you want to collect a reward, you’ll eventually need to provide your identity and cooperate with the investigation.
Even if your identity becomes known, federal and state laws protect you from retaliation. If your employer takes adverse action against you for whistleblowing, we can file separate retaliation claims to recover damages and potentially get you reinstated.
How long do I have to file a whistleblower case?
Timing varies depending on which law applies to your case. Federal False Claims Act cases must be filed within six years of the violation or three years after the government knew or should have known about the fraud. New York’s False Claims Act has a six-year statute of limitations.
SEC whistleblower complaints don’t have a specific deadline, but you should report violations promptly while the information is still valuable. The SEC prioritizes tips about ongoing violations or recent misconduct.
For retaliation claims, deadlines are much shorter. You have two years under New York Labor Law Section 740, but federal retaliation claims range from 30 to 180 days depending on the specific law. Don’t wait—contact us as soon as you witness wrongdoing or face retaliation.
Do I need evidence before contacting a whistleblower attorney?
You don’t need to have all the evidence before contacting us. In fact, it’s better to speak with an attorney early in the process so we can guide you on what information to gather and how to protect yourself.
What you do need is firsthand knowledge of fraud or violations. This could be documents you’ve seen, conversations you’ve overheard, or patterns you’ve observed. The government values original information that comes from someone with inside access.
We’ll help you understand what additional evidence might strengthen your case and how to obtain it safely. Remember, the government has substantial investigative resources—they can often uncover additional evidence once they know where to look. Your role is to point them in the right direction with credible, specific information.
What makes The Howley Law Firm different from other whistleblower attorneys?
John Howley brings nearly 30 years of experience handling complex litigation, including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Before founding our firm, he spent 20 years representing major corporations like Pfizer and Texaco—giving him unique insight into how large companies operate and defend against fraud allegations.
We’ve secured some of the largest settlements in employment law history, including an $80 million discrimination case. Our experience with high-stakes litigation means we know how to build cases that produce maximum results for our clients.
Most importantly, we understand that whistleblowing affects more than just your legal rights—it impacts your career and reputation. We provide strategic guidance to protect all your interests while pursuing the largest possible award for your case. Every case receives John Howley’s personal attention from initial consultation through final resolution.
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