Dallas Whistleblower Lawyer
Work with an Experienced Texas Whistleblower Lawyer to Report Fraud, Waste, or Abuse to the Federal Government
Our attorneys assist whistleblowers with disclosing fraud, waste, abuse, and other forms of wrongdoing to all federal agencies. If you live or work in the Dallas area and are interested in coming forward as a whistleblower, an experienced whistleblower attorney at our firm can guide you through the process.
Whistleblowers can (and do) report a wide range of illegal activities to the federal government. From anti-money laundering (AML) violations to healthcare fraud, whistleblowers play an important role in exposing all forms of wrongdoing and misconduct.
We Represent Private-Sector Employees, Public Employees, and Other Individuals
If you are interested in reporting wrongdoing or reporting misconduct to the federal government, we can help. Our Dallas attorneys have extensive experience helping individuals come forward. Whether you work for a public company, you work for a government agency, or you are a concerned citizen, an experienced attorney at our firm can help you come forward through the appropriate means and protect your rights under federal law.
Whistleblowing is a complex and multi-step process. There are several federal whistleblower laws, and there are several means of coming forward. However, prospective whistleblowers must choose the most appropriate means of filing a whistleblower claim under the circumstances at hand, and they must be prepared to work with the appropriate federal agency after coming forward. If you choose our law firm to represent you, our attorneys will take these steps on your behalf.
Matters We Handle
We represent whistleblower clients in all types of federal whistleblower cases. We handle select cases under the Texas Whistleblower Act as well. Representative examples of our practice areas include:
Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)
The AMLA and BSA include numerous requirements for financial institutions, private and publicly traded companies, and other entities in the U.S. and abroad. They establish numerous illegal acts; and, together, they are the source of numerous whistleblower complaints.
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act)
The Dodd-Frank Act serves as the foundation for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whistleblower programs. If you have information about commodities fraud or securities fraud, you may be eligible to blow the whistle under the Dodd-Frank Act.
False Claims Act (Qui Tam)
The federal False Claims Act is perhaps the single most important whistleblower statute in the United States Code. It allows whistleblowers to report all types of fraud under federal contracts, grants, and programs. Coming forward under the False Claims Act involves filing a qui tam lawsuit in federal court and then working alongside prosecutors at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Health Care Fraud
Whistleblowers play an important role in exposing all forms of health care fraud. This includes Medicare and Medicaid fraud, as well as violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, Controlled Substances Act, and other pertinent federal statutes. We help whistleblowers expose misconduct by hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and other entities across the healthcare industry.
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Sanctions
Congress enacted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to promote transparency and accountability among publicly traded companies. However, SOX violations are commonplace, as many companies simply choose not to do the right thing. Like other federal statutes that protect whistleblowers, SOX includes prohibitions against retaliation (including all forms of adverse employment action) and entitles whistleblowers to sue for back pay and other compensation in appropriate cases.
Tax Fraud and Tax Evasion
Whistleblowers can report tax fraud and tax evasion to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Whether you have information about tax law violations committed by your employer or another entity or individual, we can help you make a protected disclosure and work with the IRS to protect your confidentiality.
Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA)
The Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) protects federal employees who choose to come forward as whistleblowers. Federal employees can file whistleblower claims involving issues including fraud, retaliation, waste of federal funds, and other forms of abuse and misconduct.
Other Federal Whistleblower Cases
Our Dallas whistleblower lawyers represent individuals in many other types of federal whistleblower cases as well. This includes (but is not limited to) cases involving:
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- National Security Administration (NSA)
Why It’s Important to Have Experienced Legal Representation
If you are thinking about coming forward as a whistleblower, there are several important reasons to engage an experienced attorney as early in the process as possible. Some of the key reasons to seek experienced legal representation include:
- Making Informed Decisions – From assessing your eligibility to come forward to maximizing your award eligibility (if applicable), an experienced attorney can help you make informed decisions throughout the process. Our attorneys can conduct a confidential evaluation to determine if you qualify for legal protection based on the information you have in your possession, and then we can guide you forward accordingly.
- Preserving Critical Evidence – If you decide to come forward, it will be important to provide the government with as much evidence as possible. By seeking help from an experienced lawyer, you can preserve evidence in your possession while avoiding any legal violations that could compromise your ability to assist the government.
- Meeting All Pertinent Requirements – The requirements for coming forward as a whistleblower vary significantly between federal whistleblower laws and programs. They also vary between industries in some cases. Your attorney can assist with showing that you have a reasonable belief of wrongdoing and documenting your eligibility for the protections (and potentially compensation) that are available.
- Protecting Your Confidentiality – All federal whistleblower laws allow whistleblowers to file their claims confidentially. Your lawyer can help maintain your confidentiality while working directly with the appropriate federal authorities on your behalf.
- It Costs Nothing Out–of-Pocket – Our whistleblower attorneys handle all cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means we do not charge upfront costs or monthly fees, and our legal fees (if any) are paid by the government in successful cases.
FAQs: Working with a Whistleblower Attorney
What are the requirements to serve as a federal whistleblower?
The requirements for serving as a federal whistleblower vary depending on the specific statute under which you need to come forward and the specific procedures you need to follow based on the information you have in your possession. Generally, however, whistleblowers must be the first to come forward with the information they have in their possession, and they must have a reasonable belief that they have information about a violation of federal law.
Why should I come forward as a whistleblower?
Fraud, waste, and abuse cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars annually. This includes losses from defense contractor fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud involving misleading investors about stock transactions and other investments, and numerous other fraudulent practices. Medicare and Medicaid fraud can also result in patients receiving inappropriate treatment, and fraud can have various other direct and indirect consequences as well.
What protections are afforded to federal whistleblowers?
Federal whistleblowers are entitled to confidentiality and protection against retaliation. Due to the confidentiality protections afforded to whistleblowers, retaliation will not be a concern in most cases. But, when employers retaliate against whistleblowers, affected whistleblowers have clear legal rights. Employees in the private sector can file retaliation lawsuits in court, while government employees can seek appropriate remedies through specialized channels within the federal government.
When can federal whistleblowers receive monetary awards?
Federal whistleblowers can receive monetary awards under the False Claims Act and the whistleblower programs administered by the CFTC, DOJ, FinCEN, IRS, and SEC. If you are eligible to come forward as a federal whistleblower and seek a monetary award, our lawyers can assist you with meeting all pertinent requirements and taking the necessary steps to maximize your award eligibility.
Do I need to hire a whistleblower attorney to come forward?
While not legally required (unless you wish to seek a monetary award anonymously), hiring an experienced whistleblower attorney is strongly recommended. Among other things, an experienced attorney will be able to assist you with meeting the requirements to establish your status as a federally protected whistleblower while protecting your identity throughout the process. Your attorney can also work directly with the appropriate government officials on your behalf; and, if you are eligible to seek a whistleblower award, your attorney can help make sure you receive the compensation you deserve if your case is successful.
Speak with a Senior Dallas Whistleblower Lawyer in Confidence
If you would like to discuss your options with an experienced Dallas whistleblower attorney, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. To schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced attorneys as soon as possible, call 866-320-3959 or inquire online today.