Category Archives: IRS Whistleblower
Former Fort Lauderdale Auditor Files Retaliation Complaint Under Florida Whistleblower’s Act
According to a report from WPLG Local 10 News, a former auditor for the City of Fort Lauderdale has filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint against the municipality. In the lawsuit, John Herbst alleges that his rights were violated under Florida Whistleblower’s Act. In this article, our Florida whistleblower attorneys discuss the allegations raised by… Read More »
DOL Sues Florida Security Contractor For Whistleblower Retaliation
On February 14th, 2022, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced a lawsuit against VRP Group Inc. The Florida-based security services contractor does business under the name Regius Investigations and Protective Services. According to the allegations raised in the federal whistleblower complaint, the company unlawfully terminated an employee who blew the whistle on… Read More »
SEC Issues Several Whistleblower Awards In January 2022
The SEC Whistleblower program was created by an act of Congress in 2012. As of the end of January of 2022, there has now been $1.2 billion in financial compensation awarded to whistleblowers as part of the SEC’s program. The SEC issued several new whistleblower awards—totaling nearly $60 million in additional compensation—last month alone…. Read More »
Former Panama Beach City Manager Paid More Than $130,000 In Whistleblower Settlement
According to a report from the Panama City News-Herald, Tony O’Rourke, the former city manager for Panama Beach, has agreed to settle a whistleblower lawsuit for in excess of $130,000 in financial relief. The lawsuit in question centered around Mr. O’Rourke’s termination in February of 2021, which reportedly occurred shortly after he filed a… Read More »
Recently Fired South Florida City Manager Seeking Whistleblower Protections
According to a report from the Miami Herald, the recently-terminated city manager of Opa-Locka, Florida is seeking whistleblower protections. John Pate was terminated by the city council after less than three years on the job. The council members cited “job performance issues” as the motivating factor. Mr. Pate is now seeking protection under Florida’s… Read More »
An Overview Of The Largest False Claims Act Case Of 2021
The False Claims Act (FCA) is a federal law that imposes legal liability on individuals, businesses, and organizations that defraud the government. Under the FCA, a private individual who files a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the government to stop fraud receives special whistleblower protections. Notably, the government recovered more than $2.2 billion… Read More »
False Claims Amendments Act Of 2021 Still Winding Its Way Through Congress
Originally signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the False Claims Act (FCA) is one of the most powerful legal tools to stop fraud against the government. Notably, the FCA allows private citizens to initiate a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the government when the person uncovers fraudulent activity, and provides special protections… Read More »
SEC Whistleblower Program Tops $1 Billion In Total Compensation
According to a report from CNBC, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently announced a $110 million whistleblower award. It is the 207th award in the program’s 11-year history and the second largest ever issued. Altogether, the SEC has now awarded in excess of $1 billion in financial compensation to whistleblowers. Here, our Florida… Read More »
Three Things To Prove To Bring A Successful Whistleblower Retaliation Claim
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), retaliation is the single most “frequently alleged basis of discrimination” in employment law claims. It is often an issue in whistleblower cases. Unfortunately, some employers try to unlawfully stop whistleblowing activity by punishing workers who engage in it. Retaliation against whistleblowers is prohibited by state and… Read More »
The False Claims Act And Whistleblower Rights: Five Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Sometimes referred to as the “Lincoln Law”, the False Claims Act was passed into law with the purpose of giving authorities tools that they need to stop fraud against the government. Notably, the False Claims Act includes strong, powerful protections for whistleblowers. In this article, our Florida IRS whistleblower attorneys answer some of the… Read More »
