Whistleblowers

Most corporate misconduct happens in secret, behind closed doors, which makes it difficult to uncover and prosecute. That is why whistleblowers play such an important role in enforcing our laws and protecting the public from harmful corporate malfeasance.

Our Practice

Handley Farah & Anderson represents individuals with the courage to step forward and expose corporate fraud. Our lawyers represent whistleblowers who disclose fraud perpetrated on domestic governments, bribes to foreign governments, or fraud in financial markets. If you are aware of corporate fraud, we have the knowledge and experience to evaluate your potential claim and assist you. If your case is successful, you would likely collect a substantial percentage of the monies that were fraudulently obtained.

Forms of Whistleblower Claims

There are many ways that whistleblowers can uncover corporate misconduct. Handley Farah & Anderson focuses on four forms of whistleblowing that can be brought in the form of private legal claims:

  • False Claims Act (also called Qui Tam laws): The federal False Claims Act allows private citizens to sue individuals or companies that have defrauded the federal government and recover damages on the government’s behalf. The statute provides whistleblowers with financial rewards as well as job protection against retaliation. Specifically, whistleblowers who bring successful cases are entitled to 15 to 30 percent of the government’s recovery. Whistleblowers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars under this program by disclosing fraud in the medical, defense, construction and other industries that contract with the federal government.
  • Foreign Bribery: The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits U.S. corporations from bribing foreign government officials to secure business. Federal law rewards whistleblowers who identify instances when U.S. corporations have violated the Act. Specifically, a whistleblower is entitled to 10 to 30 percent of the amount recovered by the federal government due to the whistleblower’s information, so long as the government recovers more than $1 million. Importantly, whistleblowers around the world – including non-citizens – are eligible to recover monies under this federal program. In fact, over $30 million has been paid to whistleblowers who are not citizens of the United States.
  • Financial Fraud: Federal law permits whistleblowers who report corporate fraud in financial markets to recover substantial monies. Common forms of such fraud include the mispricing of stocks, manipulation of commodities futures, accounting fraud, and money laundering. A whistleblower will receive between 10 and 30 percent of the amount recovered by the government due to the whistleblower’s information, so long as the government recovers more than $1 million. Notably, whistleblowers around the world – including non-citizens – are eligible to recover monies under this federal program.
  • Tax Fraud: Under federal law, whistleblowers that report companies or individuals that have underpaid taxes to the U.S. government may receive monetary rewards. Specifically, if the IRS uses the information provided by a whistleblower, the agency can award that whistleblower up to 30 percent of the taxes, penalties and interest it collects from the wrongdoer.

We are lawyers who seek to improve the world. We fight for: workers deprived of wages, consumers deceived about products, tenants denied access to housing, farmers mistreated by processors, parents deprived of adequate parental leave, investors who were defrauded, small businesses harmed by antitrust violations, persons with disabilities denied access, whistleblowers who uncover fraud, and women and communities of color subject to discrimination.

Get in touch

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1201 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 200K
Washington, DC 20036
202-559-2433

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