8 Frequently Asked Questions about Whistleblower Lawsuits

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.

Contact Nashville Whistleblower Attorney Timothy L. Miles today for a free case evaluation, you may be eligible to file a whistleblower lawsuit and for a whistleblower award.

Read on for answers to eighty frequently asked questions in whistleblower cases.

What Is the False Claims Act?

​The False Claims Act (FCA) makes it illegal for any person or institution to intentionally file a false claim or create a false record regarding any federally funded program. In this case, “intentionally” includes acting with reckless disregard, which is when someone blatantly ignores the potential consequences their actions may bring. The “qui tam” provision of the FCA allows private citizens who have evidence of fraud to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party on behalf of the government.

What Does “Qui Tam” Mean?

“Qui tam” is a shortened Latin phrase meaning “who as well for the king as for himself sues in the manner.” In other words, it means that an individual is filing a lawsuit on behalf of their government, a qui tam lawsuit. The qui tam provision of the FCA was enacted not only to encourage whistleblowers but also to protect them from any retaliation by the hands of the organization they are helping to expose.

What Will a Whistleblower Attorney Do?

​An experienced whistleblower attorney will help you navigate through the complexities of the lawsuit process and make it as easy as possible for you to use your evidence to expose corruption. Once your claim is received, we begin the evaluation process to determine whether your evidence is sufficient enough to move forward. If not, we will advise you on ways to make your case stronger.

​Once it is determined that you have a case, a whistleblower attorney will help you file the lawsuit and ensure that you are protected to the fullest extent of the law for the duration of your case. We take the safety of our clients seriously, and if you experience any retaliation from the organization you are helping expose, we can do everything in our power to make sure they are held accountable for their actions. Not only that, but our attorneys will also fight for the maximum whistleblower award possible, so you are compensated fairly for your brave contribution.

What Is a Qui Tam Lawyer?

​A qui tam lawyer is an attorney who specializes in whistleblower lawsuits. This type of litigation allows private citizens to file a lawsuit on behalf of the government against an individual or organization who’s committing fraud within our nation’s federally funded programs.

What Constitutes as a Whistleblower Lawsuit?

If you have evidence of an individual or organization deliberately attempting to defraud the government of funding, you may have grounds for a whistleblower lawsuit. However, not all evidence is created equal, and you may not know if your information is sufficient enough to warrant a lawsuit. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, please speak with a whistleblower attorney for further opinion and advice on how to proceed.

Can a Whistleblower Be Fired?

​Whistleblowers are granted protections from retaliation under the FCA, including demotion, termination, suspension, denial of benefits, and any other retaliatory behavior. If an unethical organization attempts to retaliate against you despite these protections for whistleblowers, you can file a lawsuit against them and recover the damages their actions have caused.
 
However, it is important to act quickly if you do experience retaliation. Time is of the essence in these situations, and you’ll need to prove that you were fired as a result of the qui tam lawsuit you were a part of. Waiting to file a whistleblower lawsuit can make your case weaker and potentially cause you to lose it altogether, so it is important to speak with a qualified whistleblower attorney.

Do You Need Evidence to Be a Whistleblower?

​Yes, you’ll 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.

Can You Remain Anonymous as a Whistleblower?

​The False Claims Act requires that a qui tam lawsuit be kept “under seal” while the case is under investigation. This means that anyone other than the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. attorney, and the assigned judge of the District Court cannot view the details of your case until the case becomes unsealed. If you have any concerns about your anonymity during this process, it’s a good idea to speak with a whistleblower attorney and learn more about the laws that will affect your case.

Conclusion

​If you are considering blowing the whistle, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles today and see what a Nashville whistleblower attorney can do for you.

Timothy L Miles, Esq.

Timothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder rights attorney raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Miles was recentely selected by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as a 2022 Top Ranked Lawyer, 2022 Top Rated Litigator. and a 2022 Elite Lawyer of the South. Mr. Miles also maintains the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating for both legal ability and ethics. Mr. Miles is a member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association, a superb rated attorney by Avvo, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019) and recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer, Recognizing Excellence in Securities Law, by Lawyers of Distinction (2019). Mr. Miles has published over sixty articles on various issues of the law, including class actions, whistleblower cases, products liability, and more.