INTRODUCTION TO WHISTLEBLOWING Give Nashville Whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles at call if you are considering blowing the whistle
A whistleblower is anyone who has and reports insider knowledge of illegal activities occurring in an organization. A whistleblower can be an employee, supplier, contractor, client, or any individual who becomes aware of illegal business activities. If you have knowledge of a person or company attempting to defraud the federal government, and you come forward with this information, you could be receive a whistleblower award for your courage and blowing the whistle by filing a whistleblower lawsuit and do so with the knowledge you have strong whistleblower protections against whistleblower retaliation.
If you are thinking of blowing the whistle, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney and litigation attorney Timothy L. Miles, who has valuable experience and has received numerous awards, mostly due to his high ethical standards, and hard work ethic, including most recently being named an Avvo Rated Top Lawyer 2024 by AVVO, Top 25 Class action lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association (2023-present), a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association (2017-present) and has maintained an AV rating from Martindale-Hubble since 2014 (2014-present), was named a 2023 Top Rated Litigator (2019-present) and 2023 Top Rated Lawyer (2019-present) and 2023 Elite Lawyer of the South by Martindale-Hubble (2019-present), and was a recipient of the Avvo Client’s Choice Award in 2021, in 2022 was featured in the Top 100 Lawyers Magazine (2022) and received the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019–2021). Contact a Nashville whistleblower attorney today, located conveniently in Brentwood, TN a suburb of Nashville. (855) 846–6529 or [email protected]. Read on for the answers to six frequently asked questions about qui tam lawsuits. What is the False Claims Act?
The False Claims Act, enacted in 1863 during the Civil War, is a federal statute (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 – 3733) designed to curb fraud by government contractors. The Act penalizes individuals who knowingly submit false claims to the government. In 1986, key amendments modernized the law, led by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and former Representative Howard Berman (D-CA). The False Claims Act is now considered the most effective tool for recovering U.S. taxpayer money lost to fraudulent government claims.
What Is Qui Tam?
The FCA allows private citizens, known as "relators," to file a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the government in a federal district court. These lawsuits are initially filed under seal, meaning they remain confidential while the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies investigate the allegations.
Once the investigation is complete, the case may be unsealed, and the relator's identity can become public. However, during the initial stages, the relator's anonymity is protected, allowing them to come forward without fear of retaliation. How do I file a Qui Tam lawsuit?
Anyone who has knowledge of fraud against federal programs can file a qui tam lawsuit as a whistleblower. However, if a private party or the government has already filed a False Claims Act lawsuit based on the same evidence, the individual will be unable to bring their own lawsuit.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a qui tam whistleblower must file a civil complaint under seal with the court. They must also "serve a copy of the complaint and a 'written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information' possessed by the relator [whistleblower] on both the Attorney General and the United States Attorney (USA) pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4." After this, the government must decide whether or not to take over the case. If the government "does not notify the court that it is taking over the case, it becomes the relator's to litigate." Can I receive a whistleblower award? Contact Nashville Whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles today for a free and confidential consultation case evaluation
To encourage whistleblowers to report fraud against the government, the FCA provides substantial financial incentives. If the government recovers funds based on the information provided by the whistleblower, the relator is entitled to a share of the recovery, typically ranging from 15% to 30% of the total amount.
This incentive system not only rewards whistleblowers for their courage and sacrifices but also serves as a powerful deterrent against corporate fraud and misconduct. By offering a substantial share of the recovery via a whistleblower award, the FCA incentivizes individuals with insider knowledge to come forward and expose wrongdoing What all is covered by the FCA?
The False Claims Act covers a wide range of industries and sectors where fraud against the government may occur, including:
Do you need a lot of evidence for a qui tam lawsuit?
You will need strong supporting evidence to file a qui tam lawsuit. The evidence you collect must clearly display the entity committing the fraud, the amount stolen, and any other relevant information pertaining to the crime at hand. Many whistleblowers have collected financial statements, emails, and memorandums, but others have taken an extra step and used a personal recording device to collect evidence. While this is not necessary in all cases, it is important to collect as much evidence as you can to ensure that your case can help expose the corruption. For more information on the type of information you need and how to obtain it, and your whistleblower protections in obtaining it, contact Nashville Whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles.
If You Are Thinking of Blowing the Whistle, Contact Nashville Whistleblower Attorney Timothy L. Miles Today
If you have knowledge of fraud against or by the federal government, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles who can guide you through the whistleblower process and explain your whistleblower protections. The consultation is free and confidential. Just complete the form below to get started or call (855) Tim-M-Law. Ask a Nashville whistleblower attorney, you could be entitled to a significant whistleblower award.
Please also visit our Resources center which provides a wealth of information on whistleblower lawsuits, among others. Call today and see what a Nashville whistleblower attorney can do for you.
The Law Offices of Timothy L. Miles
Tapestry at Brentwood Town Center 300 Centerview Dr., #247 Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone: (855) 846–6529 Email: [email protected] Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles Timothy L. Miles is a top-rated and AV preeminent lawyer in Nashville, Tennessee and a nationally known class action and products liability lawyer who has been leading the fight to protect consumer rights for over 22 years. Mr. Miles received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1995 and his J.D. from the Nashville School of Law in May 2001, graduating third in his class, and was made a member of the Honorable Society of Cooper’s Inn which is reserved for students graduating in the top ten percent of their class. Comments are closed.
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