Whistleblower Attorney in Starrett City
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False Claims Attorney Starrett City
You’ve seen something that keeps you up at night. Maybe it’s healthcare fraud draining Medicare funds that your neighbors depend on. Maybe it’s a contractor billing the government for work they never did. Whatever it is, you know it’s wrong—and you know someone needs to stop it.
Here’s what happens when you work with us: You get a shield between you and retaliation. You get expert guidance through every deadline and procedure. You get access to government rewards that can reach hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—of dollars. Most importantly, you get peace of mind knowing you did the right thing without sacrificing your future.
The government recovered $2.9 billion through whistleblower cases in 2024 alone. That money came from people like you who decided to speak up. The question isn’t whether whistleblowing works—it’s whether you have the right attorney to protect you while you do it.
Qui Tam Attorney Starrett City
For over 20 years, The Howley Law Firm has been fighting for people who refuse to stay silent about fraud and corruption. We’ve helped clients recover millions of dollars while keeping them protected from retaliation every step of the way.
Our founder, John Howley, spent decades representing Fortune 500 companies before deciding to use those same skills to protect individuals instead. He’s argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and handled some of the largest employment cases in modern history, including an $80 million class action settlement.
In Starrett City and throughout Brooklyn, we understand the unique challenges working families face. When you’re already dealing with economic pressures—with median household incomes 36% below the city average—the last thing you need is to lose your job for doing what’s right. That’s exactly why whistleblower laws exist, and it’s exactly why we’re here to make sure they work for you.
Retaliation Attorney Starrett City NY
First, we listen. During your free, confidential consultation, we’ll review what you’ve witnessed and determine if you have a viable whistleblower case. Not every workplace problem qualifies for government rewards, but if yours does, we’ll explain exactly what that means for you.
Next, we investigate and prepare. We help you gather the right evidence while protecting your identity. We handle all the complex paperwork and make sure we meet every deadline—because missing even one can cost you your entire reward. The government gives whistleblowers between 15-30% of whatever they recover, but only if you follow the rules perfectly.
Then we file your claim under seal, which means it stays confidential while the government investigates. During this time, you’re protected by federal and state laws that make it illegal for your employer to retaliate against you. If they try anyway, we’ll make them pay for it.
Finally, we see it through to the end. Whether the government takes over your case or we pursue it independently, we stay with you until you get the justice and compensation you deserve. And remember—you don’t pay us a dime unless you win.
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Whistleblower Law Starrett City
New York has some of the strongest whistleblower protections in the country, and that matters more than you might think. Unlike most states, New York allows whistleblowers to recover money for tax fraud cases—not just federal contract fraud. If you know about a company or individual avoiding income taxes, sales taxes, or employee withholding taxes, you could be entitled to a significant reward.
The New York False Claims Act also imposes higher penalties than federal law: $6,000 to $12,000 per violation, plus up to triple the amount of money that was stolen. For Starrett City residents, this is particularly relevant because so much of the local economy depends on government-funded programs and contracts. When someone cheats these systems, they’re literally stealing from your community.
Recent cases show just how powerful these laws can be. The state recovered $5.5 million from a business that avoided taxes for ten years, and pursued a $300 million case against a major corporation for tax fraud. The government also recovered over $1.67 billion from healthcare fraud alone in 2024. Every dollar recovered is a dollar that can go back to the Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs that Starrett City families rely on.
What types of fraud can I report as a whistleblower in New York?
You can report any fraud against federal, state, or local government programs. This includes Medicare and Medicaid fraud, defense contractor fraud, tax evasion, securities fraud, and violations of federal safety regulations. Healthcare fraud is especially common—things like billing for services never provided, kickbacks to doctors for referrals, or charging the government for unnecessary medical equipment.
New York is unique because you can also report tax fraud under the state False Claims Act. If you know about a business or individual with over $1 million in annual income who’s avoiding state taxes, you could be entitled to a reward. This covers income tax, sales tax, and employee withholding tax fraud.
The key is that the fraud must involve government money or programs. If it’s purely private fraud between companies, that’s a different type of case entirely. But if taxpayer dollars are being stolen or government programs are being cheated, you likely have a whistleblower case worth pursuing.
How much money can I receive as a whistleblower reward?
Under federal law, whistleblowers typically receive 15-30% of whatever the government recovers from the fraudster. If the government intervenes in your case, you’ll get 15-25%. If they decline and you pursue it on your own with your attorney, you can get up to 30%.
The amounts can be substantial. In 2024, the government paid $400 million to whistleblowers, and total recoveries exceeded $2.9 billion. Individual awards often reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, and some whistleblowers have received millions. The exact amount depends on how much the government recovers and how significant your contribution was to the case.
New York State law offers similar percentages for state-level fraud. The important thing to understand is that these aren’t small payments—they’re designed to make it financially worthwhile for people to come forward with information about major fraud schemes. The government knows that without whistleblowers, most of these crimes would never be discovered.
Will my employer be able to retaliate against me for whistleblowing?
Retaliation is illegal under both federal and New York State law, but that doesn’t mean employers won’t try it. The law prohibits firing, demoting, reducing your pay, excluding you from meetings, giving you bad performance reviews, or creating a hostile work environment because you reported fraud.
If your employer retaliates anyway, you can sue them for compensatory damages, reinstatement, back pay, and sometimes punitive damages. The law also requires them to pay your attorney’s fees if you win. This applies whether you’re an employee or an independent contractor.
However, retaliation can be subtle. An employer might give you a suddenly poor performance review or start documenting minor issues they previously ignored. That’s why it’s crucial to work with an experienced whistleblower attorney from the beginning. We know how to document everything properly and build a strong retaliation case if needed. We also know how to protect your identity during the investigation process to minimize the risk of retaliation in the first place.
How long do I have to file a whistleblower claim?
The deadlines vary depending on which law applies to your case, but they’re generally much shorter than people expect. For federal False Claims Act cases, you typically have six years from when the fraud occurred, but there are exceptions that can extend or shorten this period.
For SEC whistleblower cases involving securities fraud, you must report within a reasonable time after discovering the violation. For IRS tax fraud cases, there are specific deadlines that depend on when the tax returns were filed. New York State cases have their own timeline requirements.
The bigger issue is that these cases take time to prepare properly. You need to gather evidence, document everything correctly, and make sure you’re following the right procedures. If you file too quickly without proper preparation, you could hurt your case. If you wait too long, you could miss crucial deadlines. That’s why it’s essential to contact a whistleblower attorney as soon as you become aware of potential fraud. We can help you understand your specific deadlines and make sure you don’t lose your right to a reward.
Do I need to have proof of fraud before contacting an attorney?
You don’t need to have a complete case with smoking-gun evidence, but you do need to have more than just suspicions. The government is looking for specific, credible information about fraud that they wouldn’t otherwise know about. This could include documents, emails, financial records, or detailed knowledge of how a fraud scheme works.
What matters most is that you have inside information that could help the government investigate and prove a case. You might be the person who processes the false claims, or who knows that your company is billing for services they’re not actually providing, or who has access to records showing tax evasion.
The evidence doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to understand all the legal implications. That’s our job. During your initial consultation, we’ll review what you know and help you understand whether you have a viable whistleblower case. We’ll also help you gather additional evidence safely and legally. Remember, the government has extensive investigative powers—they can subpoena records and interview witnesses that you couldn’t access on your own.
What's the difference between federal and New York State whistleblower cases?
Federal whistleblower cases involve fraud against federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, defense contracts, or federal tax evasion. These cases are filed in federal court and governed by federal laws like the False Claims Act, SEC whistleblower program, or IRS whistleblower program.
New York State cases involve fraud against state or local government programs, contracts, or tax obligations. New York is one of only 29 states with its own False Claims Act, and it’s stronger than most. The state law allows for higher penalties than federal law and uniquely covers tax fraud cases—something most other states don’t allow.
In practice, many fraud schemes involve both federal and state money, so you might be able to file under both laws. For example, a healthcare provider might be defrauding both federal Medicare and state Medicaid programs. The key is working with an attorney who understands both systems and can help you choose the best strategy. Sometimes it makes sense to file both federal and state cases; sometimes one approach is clearly better than the other. The decision depends on the specific facts of your case and which law offers you the best protection and potential reward.
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