Whistleblower/ Qui –Tam Actions

Some Select whistleblower cases are referred to other attorneys for principal responsibility

It takes an enormous amount of courage to bring fraud to the attention of the appropriate authorities. In the United States, numerous federal and state laws provide protection for “whistleblowers.” The U.S. Government has come to rely heavily upon whistle-blowers to halt companies from defrauding the taxpayers. At Altman & Altman, LLP, we appreciate and understand the sensitive nature of bringing forward information regarding fraudulent conduct. Our dedicated whistle-blower lawyers will stand by your side throughout the entire process and will carefully protect your rights and privacy. While fraudulent actions can take place in a wide range of settings, some of the more common types of fraud include:

• Whistleblower FAQ
• Pharmaceutical Fraud
• Healthcare / Medicare Fraud
• Securities / SEC Fraud
• Financial / Bank Fraud

False Claims Act

Individuals who have discovered fraud at their place of employment, medical facility or any other entity may recover financial damages under the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act contains a “qui-tam” provision which allows U.S. citizens to sue on behalf of the Federal Government and get back a percentage of the financial recovery. Faced with the difficult task of combating widespread fraud, the U.S. Government recognized the vital importance of “whistleblowers” in decreasing the amount of fraud perpetrated at the taxpayers’ expense.

The qui-tam provision provides an additional incentive (in the form of a percentage of the recovery paid to the whistleblower) for private citizens to come forward with evidence of fraud committed against the U.S. Government.

In addition to the Federal False Claims Act, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has also enacted similar legislation which applies to fraud perpetrated against the Commonwealth in violation of the state statute. This Massachusetts law closely mirrors the Federal False Claims Act.

Generally speaking, the Federal and Massachusetts False Claims Acts cover fraud involving any federal or state funded contract or program. The one major exception is that the Act does not cover tax fraud. Types of fraud that does fall within the False Claims Act include:

• Billing for services not performed
• Billing for goods that were never delivered
• Falsifying employee records (such as time cards)
• Falsifying testing results and/or data
• Performing unnecessary medical treatment on Medicare/Medicaid patients

Whistleblower Representation at the Greater Boston Law Firm of Altman & Altman

Whistleblower lawsuits are very complex. With over 40 years of providing legal services to clients throughout Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Law Firm of Altman & Altman has the experience and resources necessary to bring a whistleblower lawsuit against an entity committing fraud against the federal and/or state government.

There are numerous steps which a private citizen must take in order to recover a percentage of the recovery on behalf of the federal or state government. Our Greater Boston Whistle-blower Lawyers will take care of your lawsuit from start to finish and will make certain that all of the necessary steps have been taken. In addition, the experienced Whistleblower Attorneys at Altman & Altman provide our clients with legal protection from retaliation.

At Altman & Altman, we appreciate the critical role played by whistleblowers in combating fraud against the U.S. or Massachusetts government. Our dedicated team of Massachusetts Whistleblower Attorneys is pleased to provide legal representation to the courageous individuals doing their part to put an end to acts of fraud against taxpaying citizens.

If you know of company fraud against the government and wish to reveal these facts, please do not hesitate to contact the law firm of Altman & Altman for a free confidential initial consultation with one of our Greater Boston Whistleblower Attorneys.

Our whistleblower lawyers can meet with you at your home or office at any time that is convenient for you. All consultations are free of charge and are completely confidential. As local MA Whistleblower Lawyers, we have the ability to travel to meet with you at any time, including after hours. Our firm takes pride in being accessible to our clients. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, all emails received are responded to immediately.

At the law firm of Altman & Altman, our group of skillful Whistleblower Lawyers understands the difficult nature of Whistleblower Lawsuits and, with offices in Boston and Cambridge, will be by your side every step of the way to help you navigate these difficult waters. We represent clients from all over New England. Our experienced Whistleblower lawyers have the ability to meet with you face to face and will support you throughout the process in order to make you as comfortable as possible when bringing forth this type of claim.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Corporate Fraud

The Sarbanes–Oxley Act contains numerous provisions aimed at protecting whistleblowers. The law includes a provision that requires all publicly traded corporations to establish procedures for employees to file internal whistleblower complaints. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act also contains a provision that criminalizes the retaliation of whistleblowers.

Whistleblower Lawsuits and the False Claims Act/Qui Tam

Under the False Claims Act, individuals who have knowledge of a fraud being perpetrated against the government may file a Whistleblower Lawsuit. Individuals bringing a whistleblower lawsuit can collect a percentage of the financial recovery which can be up to 30%.

Health/Safety Violations and Whistleblowers

Health / Safety Violation Whistleblowers are protected under both federal and state laws. Individuals coming forward with information that uncovers acts of fraud being committed against the government may be entitled to recover a percentage of the financial recovery (up to 30%).

Medicare Billing Fraud

Medicare Billing Fraud happens on a daily basis in the United States. The Medicare system in the United States is designed to provide healthcare services to certain qualified individuals. The largest sect of the population receiving Medicare health benefits is individuals age 65 or older.

Individuals coming forward with information of a person or business that has or is committing Medicare Billing Fraud against the government may be entitled to collect a Whistleblower reward. Under this system, a whistleblower can recover up to 30% of what the government collects.

Pharmaceutical Fraud

Under the Whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, individuals coming forward with information of Pharmaceutical Fraud being committed against the government can recover a percentage (up to 30%) of the government’s financial recovery. Pharmaceutical Fraud can take many different forms. Pharmaceutical kick-backs, GMP violations, best price fraud and off-label marketing are all examples of Pharmaceutical Fraud.