Whistleblowers and Retaliation

Whistleblowers are individuals who expose information or activities that are deemed illegal, unethical, or not in the public interest within an organization or government entity. They typically bring to light instances of corruption, fraud, abuse of power, or other wrongdoing. Whistleblowers may disclose information internally within their organization, or externally to the media, government authorities, or watchdog organizations.

Whistleblowers play a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in both public and private sectors. However, they often face significant risks, including retaliation, harassment, job loss, and even legal action.

Are whistleblowers protected from retaliation?

Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation by laws and regulations that prohibit employers from taking adverse actions against them for reporting wrongdoing. In the United States, several laws provide protections for whistleblowers, depending on the industry and the type of wrongdoing reported, including:

  • Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act—Protects whistleblowers who report violations of securities laws to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
  • Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)—Protects employees of publicly traded companies who report violations of federal securities laws.
  • False Claims Act (FCA)—Protects whistleblowers who report fraud against the government.
  • Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA)—Protects federal employees who disclose evidence of waste, fraud, abuse, or other wrongdoing within the government.

Do whistleblowers get paid?

How much whistleblowers get paid can vary widely depending on several factors, including the nature of the wrongdoing, the jurisdiction, the laws governing whistleblower rewards, and whether the case results in a successful prosecution or settlement.

For example, the SEC operates a whistleblower reward program that offers monetary rewards to individuals who report securities law violations leading to successful enforcement actions. Whistleblowers can receive between 10% and 30% of the monetary sanctions collected by the SEC.

How can a whistleblower retaliation lawyer help whistleblowers?

A whistleblower retaliation attorney specializes in representing individuals who have faced retaliation or adverse actions as a result of whistleblowing. These lawyers are knowledgeable about the laws and regulations that protect whistleblowers in their respective jurisdictions and can provide legal guidance and representation to whistleblowers who have experienced retaliation.

If you’re considering filing a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit, choose a whistleblower retaliation lawyer with experience and expertise in handling whistleblower cases, as well as a track record of success in obtaining favorable outcomes for their clients.

Take the next steps to find out if you have a claim:

Step 1.

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Step 2.

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Step 3.

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If you decide to hire us to pursue your case, we will have you sign an attorney-client agreement so we can begin the process of trying to recover your losses.*

*In the vast majority of cases, our agreement is contingent – meaning you won’t owe us any money unless we recover money for you.


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