When you work with a corporation or organization engaged in secret, unethical, and illegal behavior, your conscience is constantly fighting with your survival instinct. You want to do the right thing, but you’re worried about your family and your livelihood.
You need skilled legal representation that understands the complex statutes involved. You need an experienced Atlanta whistleblower attorney who will represent you and protect you from retaliatory actions by your employer. We represent clients in Atlanta, GA, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Decatur, Jonesboro, and throughout Georgia. Having an experienced whistleblower attorney is crucial to navigate the complexities of whistleblower cases and ensure your protection. Call us today!
What Does Qui Tam Stand For?
Qui tam stands for the Latin phrase, “Qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur,” this phrase translates to, “He who sues in this matter for the king as well as for himself.” Under qui tam, any private individual who assists the prosecution in a whistleblower case can receive part of the penalties or damages recovered by the government.
We believe in representing you with skill and passion. Whistleblowers are crucial for a safe and efficient economy, and we make sure you have the protection you need. It is essential to have a strong legal team to protect whistleblowers from retaliation as they navigate the challenges of exposing wrongdoing.
If you live in Georgia area and find yourself in need of a whistleblower attorney, please call Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC today at 404-760-7400 for a free consultation.
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What is a Qui Tam Attorney?
A qui tam attorney represents private citizens during whistleblower suits. AKA a whistleblower lawyer, an experienced whistleblower lawyer works to protect the best interests of the brave men and women who assist in bringing justice to organizations or individuals intent on defrauding the government.
Who Can File a Qui Tam Lawsuit?
Under the False Claims Act, anyone with information about illegal or unethical activities intended to defraud the government can file a whistleblower lawsuit. False Claims Act cases often involve fraudulent billing practices against the federal government, particularly in industries like healthcare and defense. The government may choose to join the action or to get involved in qui tam cases, depending on the severity or implications of the crime.
ATLANTA LAWYERS REPRESENTING WHISTLEBLOWERS IN FALSE CLAIMS ACT LAWSUITS
Allergan Inc. paid $600 million to settle a federal investigation into its marketing of Botox. They paid $375 million in connection with the criminal plea. Additionally, the company made a payment of $225 million to settle the civil False Claims Act case. Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC and our co-counsel at Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP represented the realtors in the False Claims Act case.
Fraud against the federal government by unscrupulous federal contractors has cost taxpayers untold billions of dollars. Worse, investigating and prosecuting these frauds only costs everyone more.
One of the most successful tools we have to combat fraud against the federal government is the False Claims Act. This law and similar state laws, such as the Georgia Whistleblower Act, give private citizens incentive to report government contractor fraud by rewarding them financially — by giving private citizens the right to sue dishonest federal contractors in a “qui tam” lawsuit.
Whistleblowers often face significant challenges when dealing with a government agency, making legal support crucial to protect their rights and ensure their claims are heard.
In this age of corporatism, businesses of all sizes will do anything to compete. All too often, this involves violating contracts, rules, regulations and laws. At Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, we are interested in representing individuals who have knowledge of fraud on the government who are interested in making a whistleblower claim.
Do you want to speak out against Acts of Corruption or Fraud by a Government Contractor?
Contact our Atlanta office today to discuss a potential whistleblower case in a free consultation.
Whistleblower Expose Corporate WrongDoing
The federal and Georgia false claims acts allow whistleblowers who expose fraud to keep a portion of any damages they help the government recover through their lawsuits — usually about 15-25 percent.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a set of federal securities laws enacted in response to corporate scandals, mandates transparency in financial reporting for publicly traded companies and protects whistleblowers from employer retaliation, safeguarding those who report violations related to securities regulations.
Whistleblower cases can involve literal “false claims” — knowingly submitting false bills or claims for payment. Qui tam cases can also involve other fraud against the government, such as:
- Nursing home abuse** or fraudulent claims against Medicaid**
- Inaccurate or off-label pharmaceutical marketing
- Violations of environmental laws by energy companies
- Violations of law enforcement codes of ethics
If you have blown the whistle on a federal or Georgia contractor, you may be eligible to recover damages. Our lawyers will advise you on filing a qui tam complaint.
Check out our recent success with Allergan, Inc.
How Our Atlanta False Claims Act Lawyers Can Help
We respect and applaud your desire to step forward and blow the whistle on corrupt or unethical practices. But the way you choose to do so is crucial. There are state and federal laws protecting whistleblowers, but they also regulate the method by which you blow the whistle. And how do company policies regarding public disclosure and corporate secrets factor into the decision-making process?
It is essential to adhere to statutory requirements to ensure a successful whistleblower claim.
Our Georgia exceptional whistleblower attorneys can answer these questions and any others you might have. We help potential whistleblowers working in several industries, including:
- Health care
- Nursing homes
- Automotive manufacturing
This is not an exhaustive list, of course.
It’s important that you speak to our attorneys before making any decisions about how to move forward with your disclosures. We can help you by:
- Reviewing the relevant laws and helping you understand how they apply to your specific situation
- Helping you decide upon a strategy for how to move forward with your disclosures, including the parties to which you will blow the whistle
- Protecting you from any retaliatory action by your employer, including breach of contract lawsuits
Don’t hesitate to arrange a consultation with our whistleblower attorneys. We want to hear your story, discuss your situation and help you in any way we can.
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Do Whistleblowers Remain Anonymous?
Many whistleblowers remain anonymous during proceedings. It is possible for a whistleblower to maintain anonymity even through the claims process, but court documents may name the whistleblower, making true anonymity impossible to guarantee. Filing a federal whistleblower complaint involves several steps, including gathering evidence, submitting the complaint to the appropriate agency, and potentially seeking legal representation to navigate the complexities and protections involved. However, part of the job of a whistleblower attorney is to protect you against retaliation and ensure you are not intimidated, coerced, or otherwise manipulated by the defense.
Learn more about whistleblower cases in our blog
FEATURED VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS
Whistleblower Results
Allergan Inc. paid $600 million to settle a federal investigation into its marketing of Botox. Allergan paid $375 million in connection with the criminal plea. Additionally, the company paid $225 million to settle the civil False Claims Act case. Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC and our co-counsel at Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP represented the relators in the False Claims Act case.
Get in Touch with Top Atanta Whistleblower Lawyers Now!
If you live anywhere in Georgia and you need the learned advice and counsel of an experienced Atlanta whistleblower lawyer, please today for a free, confidential consultation.
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