A whistleblower is an individual who comes forward with information about government fraud, including false records, fraudulent bills and other illegal activities. Whistleblowers risk their jobs and possibly careers to put an end to the corruption. Fortunately, there is a way to help protect your rights when blowing the whistle. You can contact a Vancouver whistleblower attorney at Rizk Law to learn how he or she can help you throughout this process. We understand how complex and complicated it can be to pursue these lawsuits. If you decide to take legal action with us, we will handle the entire process from filing, proving fraud, to pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to for providing this public service. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation today. We will help you understand your legal options and how to move forward with a case. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs or service fees unless you are compensated.

Call us at 503.245.5677 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form to get started.

What is Government Fraud?

Whistleblower lawsuits, also known as qui tam lawsuits, are governed by the False Claims Act (FCA), a federal law that allows ordinary people to bring forward cases on behalf of the government. Some specific examples of government fraud covered by this law can include:

  • Using falsified records to avoid a required payment to the government
  • Creating fraudulent statements or records to induce the government to provide payment
  • Creating falsified documents that certify that the company is in compliance with the law when it is not
  • Not delivering property that belongs to the government
  • Buying government property from someone who is not authorized to sell that property

Government fraud can occur in any corporation, industry or organization that has a contract with the government. Some of the types of fraud our whistleblower attorneys can handle include:

Mortgage Fraud

Mortgage fraud occurs when one party deliberately deceives another by misrepresenting or omitting facts, information or figures. This type of fraud is prevalent during economic recessions when there is turmoil in housing markets such as homeowners facing foreclosure. Some mortgage fraud activities include:

  • Impersonating a borrower on behalf of another who is making the purchase
  • Claiming income or assets that the borrower does not initially have
  • Increasing an appraisal to obtain a mortgage for more than the property is worth
  • Pretending to offer financial aid to a financially-stressed homeowner who is trying to refinance

Health Care Fraud

This type of fraud occurs when a dishonest health care provider or consumer intentionally submits false or misleading information to control the amount of benefits payable. Some examples of health care fraud include, but are not limited to:

  • Charging for a service that never occurred
  • Upcoding, which is billing for a costlier service than the one that was given
  • Falsifying a patient’s diagnosis to justify costly tests, surgeries or other medical procedures that are not necessary
  • Billing twice for the same service

Corporate Fraud

When a company or individual manages activities in an illegal or dishonest manner in order to give an advantage (typically financial) to the company or perpetrating individual, they are committing fraud. This often includes overbilling the government for goods or services or filing false reports to gain profit. Corporate fraud typically goes undetected for a long period of time as these fraudulent activities start out small and are not meant to be a repeated act. If you have witnessed an organization or corporation commit government fraud, our Vancouver whistleblower lawyers are available to discuss your options and how to proceed in filing a claim. Our attorneys are committed to your best interests.

Contact us now for a Free Case Evaluation.

Understanding the False Claim Act (FCA)

The False Claim Act (FCA) allows individuals who have evidence of fraud against the government to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the government. The government has the authority to intervene and take over the case. Usually in a successful suit, the guilty party is required to repay the government triple the amount that was defrauded. Depending on their involvement in the case, a whistleblower may receive between 15 to 25 percent of the total government’s reward. However, if the government decides to opt out of the case, the individual may proceed with the lawsuit on his or her own and may be entitled to receive up to 30 percent of the government’s reward. If you are contemplating filing a qui tam lawsuit and blowing the whistle on fraudulent acts you have witnessed, you may be wondering if you will suffer retribution from your employer, such as losing your job or being demoted. However, whistleblowers are protected by the federal government through the False Claims Act. If you are retaliated against in violation of the law, you may be entitled to relief, which could include reinstatement to your previous position, back pay and special damages caused by discrimination, such as attorney fees. Our Vancouver whistleblower attorneys will be sure that you understand your rights from start to finish with your qui tam claim. We are ready to answer all legal questions you may have.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form to get started.

Statute of Limitations for Whistleblower Cases?

If you are considering filing a qui tam lawsuit, you should act fast and contact an attorney as soon as possible. There is a deadline of six years from when fraud occurred, or three years after the date the government knew or should have known about fraud. It may be difficult to determine when the government would have known about fraud. This is one of the benefits of a working with a lawyer who can investigate and help determine how much time is left to file a lawsuit. Our whistleblower attorneys at Rizk Law will work tirelessly to try to ensure your case is filed before the deadline passes.

Fill out our Free Case Evaluation form right now.

Contact a Vancouver Whistleblower Lawyer

If you believe your company or another organization may be committing fraud, you may be entitled to receive compensation for blowing the whistle through a False Claims Act lawsuit. Whistleblower/qui tam lawsuits can be complex and involve many parties from the defrauder to the government. Our whistleblower lawyers are available to help you pursue this difficult lawsuit and can handle all the legal work on your behalf. At Rizk Law, we are committed to serving you. Contact us for a free consultation so that we can walk you through the steps involved in these kinds of cases. We will review your case at no risk to you and if you decide to proceed with us, we will pursue compensation and advocate for your right to be free from retaliation for exercising your right to be a whistleblower.

Call us at 503.245.5677 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form to get started today.