Ocala Whistleblower Lawyer
The federal government loses hundreds of billions of dollars every year due to fraud. Fraud comes in many forms, and one of the federal government’s most successful tactics in fighting fraud is called a whistleblower lawsuit. Employees who uncover wrongdoing by their employers are encouraged to report fraudulent schemes by filing whistleblower lawsuits on behalf of the federal government. Not only does this give everyday citizens a chance to fight what amounts to large scale crime and serve their communities, but they are often handsomely rewarded by doing so. Our Ocala whistleblower lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm are here to discuss your legal options, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Common Types of Fraud
Fraud is rampant in the United States and here in Florida. Whistleblower tips increased by 76 percent from 2012 to 2018, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 2018 saw the highest dollar amount of awards every distributed to whistleblowers. A whistleblower receives between 10 and 30 percent of monetary sanctions collected, which for some cases is into the tens of millions of dollars. Other whistleblower claims may be smaller yet still yield very high returns for whistleblowers who file lawsuits against their employers on behalf of the government.
- Healthcare Fraud—Some estimate that total U.S. healthcare fraud adds up to $272 billion per year, with Medicaid and Medicare fraud totalling close to $100 billion annually, according to the Economist. Culprits of Medicaid and Medicare fraud include insurance companies, doctors, hospitals, patients, and other businesses.
- Defense Contractor Fraud—Aerospace and defense companies earn tens of billions of dollars every year by performing contract work for the federal government. Defense contractor fraud is committed when these multi billion or multi trillion dollar companies falsify invoices, overcharge the government, or violate the TINA requirements by not providing the government the best price, among other fraudulent schemes.
- Environmental Fraud—When an environmental law or regulation is violated intentionally, an employer has committed environmental fraud. Environmental protections are put in place to ensure the safety of employees, customers, the general public, and the natural environment. Clean drinking water and air depend upon these laws being upheld, though they are routinely violated in the name of profit. If your employer’s greed has lead to corners being cut at the expense of the environment and people’s health, the only way to stop further damage is to file a whistleblower lawsuit.
Other Top Types of Fraud
- Tax and IRS fraud;
- Procurement fraud;
- Securities fraud;
- Pharmaceutical fraud;
- Federal student loan fraud;
- False claims and false settlement fraud;
- Education fraud;
- Postal Service fraud;
- Government construction fraud;
- Customs fraud; and
- Fraudulent loans.
Florida Whistleblower Protection Act
If you file a whistleblower lawsuit, are planning to file a lawsuit, have discussed potential wrongdoing with a federal agency, cooperated in an inspection, or have discussed filing a whistleblower lawsuit with an attorney, you are protected against retaliation from your employer under the Florida Whistleblower Protection Act. Even if your whistleblower lawsuit goes nowhere, if you have been fired or retaliated against by your employer, you can file a civil lawsuit against them for violating the Whistleblower Protection Act.
Contact an Ocala Whistleblower Lawyer Today
If you believe that your employer is engaging in illegal, fraudulent acts, and in so doing committing theft of taxpayer dollars, you need to contact the Ocala whistleblower lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm to discuss the legal options that lay ahead of you. Contact us today at 1-844-200-0000 to schedule a free consultation.
