Whistleblower Law

A whistleblower is someone who discloses corruption or wrongdoing. Through a number of federal and state laws, the government now allows whistleblowers to collect a percentage of what the government recovers for revealing the wrongdoing, as long as the requirements of the laws are met. The purpose is to deter corruption and encourage information to be brought forward about fraud.

 

In order to determine whether you might have a whistleblower claim, it is necessary to speak with  counsel experienced in whistleblower law to review your case AND to carefully strategize which laws to engage and how to verify the claims being made.

 

 

1.  A pharmaceutical company promotes a product for ?off-label? uses, which were not approved by the FDA. This was recently the basis for a $142 million verdict against Pfizer for its improper promotion of the drug. The FDA had approved it for epilepsy but medical liaisons were allegedly taught to tell doctors that the drug had a variety of other uses.

 

2.   A hospital group pays kickbacks to doctors who refer patients to its hospitals. The South Texas Health System agreed to pay $27.5 million to settle claims  that it paid moneys to doctors for their referrals.

  

3.  Where a defense contractor overcharges the government for its products.  Northrup Grumman paid $325 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit involving military satellites for substandard quality. The lawsuit alleged that TRW, which Northrop Grumman acquired in 2002, sold to the government components known as ?heterojunction bipolar transistors: which TRW knew were likely to fail in government satellites. The whistleblower was awarded $48.7 million for his share in the recovery.

 
4.  The Financial Industry. UBS AG Switzerland?s largest bank will pay $780 million to settle charges it helped thousands of wealthy Americans to evade taxes. UBS settled after Heinrich Kieber, a former employee of a Liechtenstein bank, brought documents to the IRS detailing the massive cheating by U.S. citizens.

 

5.   Provider of kidney dialysis products submits false claims to the government for dialysis treatments and payment of kickbacks. Fresenius Healthcare agrees to pay $385 million to resolve allegations of kickbacks to dialysis facilities to refer their Clinical blood testing lab work. Some of the illegal payment were said to have Included bear hunting trips; yacht rentals; grants for research studies not performed.