Hear from Our Customers
You reported wrongdoing because it was the right thing to do. Now you’re facing retaliation, lost income, or career damage. That stops here.
When we take your whistleblower case, you get more than legal representation. You get your life back. Our clients walk away with financial compensation that reflects the courage it took to speak up—often hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in recovery.
You’ll have job protection under federal and state law. If you’ve been wrongfully terminated, we fight for reinstatement or front pay. Most importantly, you’ll have peace of mind knowing an experienced attorney is handling every detail while you focus on moving forward.
We’ve spent decades representing people exactly like you in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and throughout New York. We understand what it’s like to go up against powerful employers and institutions.
John Howley spent 20 years as a partner at a major corporate law firm, representing Fortune 500 companies like Pfizer, Texaco, and Citibank. He knows how these organizations think and operate. Now he uses that insider knowledge to protect whistleblowers and employment law clients.
Our track record speaks for itself: $80 million discrimination settlement, $115 million class action victory, and millions recovered for individual clients. We’ve argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and train other attorneys on whistleblower law.
First, we listen. During your free, confidential consultation, we’ll review your situation and explain your rights under New York and federal whistleblower laws. No pressure, no obligation.
If you have a strong case, we work on contingency. That means you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. We handle all the complex procedural requirements and strict deadlines that trip up other cases.
We’ll determine the best path forward—whether that’s filing under the False Claims Act, SEC whistleblower program, or other protection laws. Throughout the process, you’ll know exactly what’s happening and what to expect next. Many cases settle, but we’re always prepared to take yours to trial if needed.
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New York has some of the strongest whistleblower protections in the country. The state recently expanded its laws to provide even broader coverage against retaliation. You’re protected whether you’re reporting healthcare fraud, securities violations, tax fraud, or safety violations.
In Prospect Lefferts Gardens, we see whistleblower cases involving the area’s many healthcare professionals, financial services workers, and government contractors. With 60% of local residents in executive and professional roles, you’re not alone in witnessing workplace misconduct.
Under the False Claims Act, successful whistleblowers can receive 15-30% of whatever the government recovers. In 2024 alone, whistleblowers helped recover billions in fraudulent payments. The SEC whistleblower program offers similar rewards for securities fraud. These aren’t small amounts—individual awards often reach hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.
New York law protects whistleblowers who report a wide range of misconduct. This includes healthcare fraud like Medicare or Medicaid billing violations, securities fraud, tax fraud, safety violations, and any activity that poses substantial danger to public health or safety.
You’re also protected for reporting discrimination, harassment, wage theft, and violations of environmental laws. The key is that you must have a reasonable belief that the activity violates the law. Even if it turns out the employer didn’t technically break the law, you’re still protected if your belief was reasonable.
Recent changes to New York’s whistleblower law expanded these protections significantly. The law now covers more types of retaliation and provides stronger remedies for whistleblowers who face backlash for doing the right thing.
Whistleblower rewards vary depending on the program and the amount the government recovers, but they can be substantial. Under the False Claims Act, you can receive 15-25% of the recovery if the government joins your case, or 25-30% if you proceed on your own.
For example, if the government recovers $10 million based on your information, your reward could be $1.5-3 million. SEC whistleblower awards range from 10-30% of recoveries over $1 million. In 2024, individual whistleblower awards reached tens of millions of dollars in some cases.
Beyond reward money, you can also recover damages for retaliation. This includes back pay, front pay, reinstatement, emotional distress damages, and attorney fees. We’ve seen clients recover their full salary for years of lost work, plus additional compensation for the harm they suffered.
Initially, no. Whistleblower complaints are filed under seal, meaning they remain confidential while the government investigates. This seal period typically lasts 60 days but can be extended. During this time, your employer won’t know about the complaint.
However, if the government decides to intervene in your case or if you proceed on your own after the seal period, your employer will eventually learn about the complaint. This is why it’s crucial to work with an experienced attorney who can help protect you from retaliation.
Federal and state laws strictly prohibit retaliation against whistleblowers. If your employer retaliates after learning about your complaint, that’s a separate legal violation that can result in additional damages. We help clients prepare for this possibility and take immediate action if retaliation occurs.
Deadlines vary depending on the type of claim and the law you’re filing under. For False Claims Act cases, you generally have six years from when the violation occurred, or three years from when the government knew or should have known about the violation, whichever is later. But this can’t exceed 10 years from the violation.
For retaliation claims, deadlines are much shorter. You typically have 180 days to file with the Department of Labor for certain types of retaliation, though some state law claims allow longer periods. SEC whistleblower complaints don’t have specific deadlines, but waiting too long can hurt your case.
This is why it’s critical to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. We can evaluate your situation, determine which laws apply, and make sure you don’t miss any crucial deadlines. Even if you think you might be too late, it’s worth having us review your case.
This depends on the specific law and your situation. Some whistleblower protections require you to report internally first, while others don’t. New York’s general whistleblower law typically requires you to notify your employer before reporting to outside agencies, unless there’s an immediate threat to public safety.
However, many federal programs don’t require internal reporting. For False Claims Act cases, you can go directly to the government. SEC whistleblower complaints can be filed without internal reporting, though doing so might affect your reward amount.
Internal reporting can be risky because it tips off your employer before you have legal protections in place. We help clients navigate these requirements carefully. Sometimes we recommend reporting internally first; other times we advise going directly to the government. The right approach depends on your specific situation and the strength of your case.
Document everything immediately. Keep records of any negative actions your employer takes—emails, performance reviews, schedule changes, exclusion from meetings, or hostile treatment from supervisors. Save these records at home, not on company systems.
Don’t discuss the situation with coworkers, as this could complicate your case. If you haven’t already reported the underlying misconduct, consult with an attorney before taking any action. If you have reported it, we need to move quickly to protect your rights.
Contact our office right away for a free consultation. Retaliation cases have strict deadlines, and evidence can disappear quickly. We can file complaints with the appropriate agencies, seek immediate relief like reinstatement, and pursue damages for the harm you’ve suffered. The sooner you call, the more options we have to protect you.
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