Whistleblower – Davis Bacon Act Violations

The Davis Bacon Act was instituted to protect workers from unfair treatment and guarantee them just compensation. Companies who commit Davis-Bacon Act fraud sacrifice the livelihood of their own workers for profit. These schemes ought to be exposed. If you have reason to know of a Davis-Bacon Act fraud scheme, there may be a significant reward. We can protect you from any retaliation by your employer as well.

The Davis-Bacon Act

The Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors on federal projects to pay laborers and mechanics the prevailing wage and benefits in the area where the project is performed. It also covers subcontractors. Fraud occurs when contractors falsify records of wages paid to workers. The prevailing wage is determined by the Department of Labor and is based on construction projects in the same area. Of course, contractors can decide to pay their employees more, but they cannot pay less. Often contractors will represent that they have paid the proper wage when in fact they have not. For example, if a project being performed in an area with a $30 prevailing wage, the contractor must pay a minimum of $30. If the contractor pays less than this amount, but reports that they paid the full amount, this constitutes a violation of the False Claims Act.

Davis-Bacon Whistleblowers

Like any other fraud covered by the False Claims Act, there are protections for company insiders who choose to come forward about misconduct within their company’s ranks. Whistleblowers are entitled to financial compensation, which can be quite significant. There are strict rules whistleblowers must follow in order to be eligible for a reward. It is in your best interest to hire an attorney to ensure you follow the proper protocol.

How do I report Davis-Bacon Fraud?

Whistleblowers can simply report fraud to the U.S. Department of Labor or a hotline, but they won’t be eligible for a reward, even if it leads to the recovery of millions of dollars against a company. In order to recover for your lead, you have to hire an attorney to file a suit under the False Claims Act called a qui tam suit. Call one of our attorneys today to get your suit started. There is virtually no risk, as we operate on a contingency basis and you pay no fee unless we recover on your behalf. Most reports go ignored, so having one of our experiences False Claims Act attorneys by your side will help bolster your claim. If your information is valuable, we will work to get you the compensation you are owed.

What can I Recover?

This depends on the scheme you are reporting. You will receive a percentage of what the government successfully recovers from the company or individual you are exposing. Specifically, the whistleblower is entitled to between 15% and 30% of the amount recovered. Whistleblowers may recover millions of dollars in a single suit.

Not only do these actions defraud the federal government, but they give fraudulent business models a leg up on its honest competitors. If you have evidence of your company’s Davis-Bacon fraud, we can help. Our attorneys understand that the decision to come forward about fraud within your own workplace is a difficult one. That is why we are here to guide you through every step of the process. At the law firm of Altman & Altman, our group of skillful Whistleblower Lawyers will be by your side every step of the way to help you navigate these difficult waters.

To schedule your free consultation with an experienced whistleblower attorney at Altman & Altman LLP, call 617.492.3000 or contact us through our convenient online chat.