Author Archives: Staff

That section can be found at 30 U.S.C. § 3730(h) and states:

Any employee who is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because of lawful acts done by the employee on behalf of the employee or others in furtherance of an action under this section, including investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action filed or to be filed under this section, shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole. Such relief shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status such employee would have had but for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. An employee may bring an action in the appropriate district court of the United States for the relief provided in this subsection.

For more information on whistleblower rights and protections, click here.

The Federal, New York State and New York City False Claims Acts provide for a bounty of up to 30 percent of the Government’s recovery.

Yes. Under the federal False Claims Act, an individual may only recover a bounty if he or she initiates a lawsuit. A person who initiates such a lawsuit is called a “Relator.” The same is true with regard to the New York State and New York City False Claims Acts.

Yes. Congress passed a specific law that allows private citizens to report to the IRS information that would enable the IRS to make a claim for taxes. This law can be found at 26 USC § 7623.  See also IRS Publication 733, Rewards for Information Provided by Individuals to the Internal Revenue Service.