In the United States, there are three main programs for whistleblowers to pursue their cases: the False Claims Act (FCA), the SEC Whistleblower Program, and the IRS Whistleblower Program. In some instances, claims can be filed under multiple laws. The timeline and procedure for a given case depend on the program that it’s filed under. For example, an individual with knowledge of a medical device company paying kickbacks to doctors could file an FCA claim against the company for violating Medicare regulation. At the same time, he can also file another litigation under the Dodd-Frank Act (SEC program) for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by falsifying corporate records in order to conceal the bribes.
The timeline to report a fraud
The statute of limitations controls how long an individual can wait before filing a claim. All qui tam cases must be filed within a certain number of years since the illegal misconduct occurred. The False Claims Act’s statute of limitations requires whistleblowers to come forward within 6 years of when the fraud is committed or 3 years from when the government knew of should have known of the fraud, but never more than 10 years after the fraud occurred. The IRS and SEC whistleblower programs have several variable statutes of limitations that can be as little as three years. Also, by reporting the unlawful scheme quickly, relators increase the chances that their case will be successful and that the government may ultimately increase their final reward.
Contact An Attorney
If you want to blow the whistle, you should contact an attorney for several reasons:
- If you are filing a case under the False Claims Act, it is required that you have a lawyer to represent you.
- For the SEC and CFTC whistleblower programs, hiring an attorney allows you to file a complaint anonymously. This is an important type of whistleblower protection.
- Having an expert lawyer in your corner to organize, file, and facilitate your whistleblower claim dramatically increases the likelihood of your case being successful, which is the basic requirement for claiming a reward.
Speaking to an expert in legal matters to better arm themselves with the critical information that a whistleblower needs to protect themselves and to truly understand their options. Your first communications with our attorneys and investigators will be strictly confidential and all your communications with the law firm will remain privileged and secure no matter whether you choose to pursue a case or not.
St Georges Hall Court Room – Photo by Michael D Beckwith
Organizing Your Case
After an initial discussion, you or your legal representative will begin to organize your case by reviewing the details of the fraud, studying any relevant documents and information you possess, and conducting an investigation of the company or companies involved. This information will serve as the foundation of your case.
During this time, you should not discuss your litigation with anyone. Under the FCA, if you tell anyone besides your attorneys about the investigation, you are seriously risking your entire claim.
If, after this information is gathered, both you and your attorney feel you have a viable case and wish to proceed further, you need to sign a retainer agreement with the law firm. This contract specifies you will split a part of your future reward with your legal team; this means that you will never be obligated to pay an hourly fee or for the time and resources of the firm until you receive a reward. Now, you and your lawyer just need to determine the best program to file a claim under.
Filing A Claim Under The False Claims Act (FCA)
If a person has knowledge of corporate wrongdoing that causes the federal government to lose money or pay for substandard goods or services, their attorneys will most likely file a claim under the FCA. These federal complaints are called qui tam cases and are the most common whistleblower (also known as “relator”) actions. The complaint is filed “under seal” on behalf of the United States Government and provides details that explain how the company is committing fraud. For as long as the seal remains in place, only the court, the federal authorities, and the relator’s legal representatives will know about the case.
This way the defrauding companies are not alerted that they’re under investigation and the citizen who blew the whistle is protected as well. While the case remains under seal, the legal team will provide the authorities with a “disclosure statement” containing all the documents, files, emails, and evidence collected. The U.S. Department of Justice will use them to determine whether it would like to pursue the case; the government has the option to join an FCA action, known as “intervening”, but may choose not to do so. If the government does not intervenes, a whistleblower can continue to pursue the case in the court and, if successful, may get an even larger reward.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT
Filing a SEC Whistleblower Claim
To submit a claim about a potential security or financial fraud, the relator’s legal representative will complete a Form TCR. A claim is more likely to draw the authorities’ attention if the information the provided has been well researched and carefully presented.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SEC WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM
Filing an IRS Whistleblower Claim
Under the IRS whistleblower law, an individual knowing that a person or corporation is committing any type of tax fraud may file a tip with the IRS Whistleblower Office. This type of action begins by submitting IRS Form 211. This form includes any documents and evidence that show the suspected scam and help the IRS collect owed taxes. There are almost no limits on what evidence the whistleblower can provide.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IRS WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM
U.S. Government Initial Investigation and Intervention
Once a claim has been filed, and the whistleblower has provided the respective office with any evidence he possesses, the government will begin its own investigation. In False Claims Act cases, the Department of Justice (DOJ) staff will spend several months conducting interviews, as well as researching the company and the fraudulent scheme. Afterwords, the government determines whether it would like to pursue the case on its own, and chose whether DOJ attorneys are going to take over prosecuting the case or will work in conjunction with the relator’s ones to build the strongest case against the defendant. Should the government decline to intervene, the whistleblower has the option to pursue the case independently hoping to get a higher reward. Unlike FCA cases, however, IRS and SEC ones cannot be continued if the agencies choose not to act.
Government Prosecution
If the government chooses to pursue a case, a federal enforcement agency, such as the Department Of Justice or the Securities & Exchange Commission, will lead the investigation. The agency will actively litigate the case and attempt to ultimately collect a fine or settle with the defendant.
During this stage, the whistleblower mostly waits while the government’s case makes its way through the court system. At times, the authorities or the relator’s lawyers may call on him to provide additional information, help investigators understand a particular situation or simply keep him informed about the status of the case.
Whistleblower Settlements & Rewards
If the case is successful in court and leads to a recovery of fraudulently gained funds, the whistleblower receives a percentage of the recovered amount as a reward. To be eligible for this award, a series of legal requirements must be fulfilled. The size of the reward is discretionary to an extent, but typically falls within the range between 10% and 30% of the amount of money recollected by the authorities.
The more you wait, the less are the chances that your case will be successful in court. Waste no time and get in touch with our legal team. Everything you tell us is strictly confidential. We charge you nothing until and unless we secure you a monetary reward.