Whistleblowing

The term “whistleblowing” is a reference to the practice of sports officials and law enforcement officers blowing a whistle to indicate a foul or crime has been committed. Today, we think of whistleblowing as the act of a courageous individual who cries “foul” over the negligent, unethical, or illegal actions of a corporation or government entity. Whistleblowing actions against the government by private citizens are also known as filing a “qui tam” claim. This is related to the False Claims Act.

There have been several high profile whistleblowing cases in the United States in recent years. Oftentimes, whistleblowers become folk heroes, while in other cases they simply remain everyday citizens who refused to turn a blind eye to the harmful actions of the powerful.

In both instances, whistleblowers face a tough road – enduring threats, coercion, and bribes in an attempt to gain their silence. Undaunted, whistleblowers, with the help of experienced and aggressive attorneys, have been successful in affecting some of the most important policy changes, and environmental and human rights protections in our country today.

Types of Whistleblowers

There are two primary types of whistleblowers:

• Internal whistleblowers – Famous whistleblowers such as Jeffrey Wigand and Jennifer Long blew the whistle on corrupt practices within their own organizations
• External Whistleblowers – Erin Brockovich and Ralph Nader are two well-known external whistleblowers who, upon seeing unethical and illegal actions from corporations they were not involved with, brought the issues to the attention of the American people

Whistleblowers have protection under federal law, but corporations who have proven their willingness to break the law cannot be trusted to honor these rights. This is why you need an experienced attorney on your side, no matter the circumstances.

An attorney with sufficient experience in whistleblowing law will be able to provide you with the protection and representation you will require before, during, and after your whistleblowing takes place. Your attorney will work to protect you against the threats and intimidation tactics of powerful corporations, and to ensure your job, safety, and rights are fully preserved.

Whistleblowing is a brave and honorable thing to do. Having an attorney on your side is essential to ensuring you are fully protected during every step of your heroic endeavor.

If you are aware of unethical or illegal corporate behavior, please contact the experienced qui tam attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. to schedule a free initial consultation today. We serve the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.