If you are thinking about speaking up about fraud, illegal activity, or unethical behavior that you have witnessed in the workplace, or are already feeling repercussions from having done this, it may be in your best interest to speak to a whistleblower lawyer Maryland community members have come to rely on.
Even though the United States constitution and subsequent laws and acts provide protections for whistleblowers, whistleblowers often do not feel safe once they start to speak out against wrongdoings.
Whistleblower Laws
Many people harken back to the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and free press as the first provisions that our (then) infant government provided for its citizens. Another well-known, protective legislation from President Lincoln, is the False Claims Act, first passed in 1863. This law along with others say that citizens who come forward with a legal claim may be entitled to recovery.
Even with protective provisions, whistleblowers in Maryland often need the representation of a whistleblower lawyer Maryland whistleblowers have gotten help from in the past.
Whistleblower laws are intended to encourage as well as provide protections for those individuals who witness or become aware of illegal activity or fraud against the government- but even with these, many whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers live in fear and find comfort when they know that they have the help of a whistleblower lawyer Maryland neighbors trust.
Since the writing of the Constitution and Lincoln’s False Claims Act, many different whistleblower laws have been put forth and have evolved with time. Different industries in the U.S. have different laws that apply to whistleblowers. Examples of these include but are not limited to:
- Federal Government The Whistleblower Enhancement Act protects federal employees
- NYSE The Sarbanese-Oxley Act of 2002 protects any employee in a company trading on the NYSE
- Financial Sector The Dodd-Frank Act protects employees in the financial sector
- Food Services The Food Safety Modernization Act protects those working in food service
If you are unsure about whether or not you have protections under the law for whistleblower actions, talking to a licensed whistleblower lawyer Maryland whistleblowers have used to help them determine this in the past, may give you the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your unique situation.
Determining Fraud
A whistleblower case can encompass many different kinds of illegal actions that go beyond fraud against government agencies or taxpayers.
A whistleblower is an employee who comes forth with information that s/he believes is evidence that includes but is not limited to an employer’s:
- Abuse of power
- Mismanagement
- Gross fraud
- Gross waste
- Actions that present specific and significant danger to the safety of the public
Even with protections for whistleblowers in place, it can be difficult to prove your case against a powerful individual, corporation or other entity.
Only a licensed attorney with extensive understanding of the laws surrounding whistleblowers and their rights can determine whether an individual’s unique situation warrants a court case. Talking to a lawyer who is educated and trained in this area of law may help you to feel protected as you decide whether to become a whistleblower- or whether to move forward with a legal case if you’ve already blown the whistle. If you are unsure of what to do in your particular situation, contact a whistleblower lawyer Maryland whistleblowers have found to be helpful for their situations in the past.
Employer Retaliation
When a whistleblower comes forward with particular information about their employer and then feels retaliated against, s/he may have grounds to pursue a civil suit. While retaliation for publicly speaking out against an employer’s wrongdoings is technically prohibited by law in most workplaces, many whistleblowers feel like their employers impose consequences on them soon after they speak out.
Examples of how an employer may respond to an employee’s adverse but very much legal actions include but are not limited to:
- New forms of (sometimes unreasonable) discipline that the employee was not subject to before s/he spoke out against the employer’s wrongdoings
- Demotion
- Dismissal
Even though there are federal protections for people who speak up about an employer’s or organization’s wrongdoings, there is a need for a good whistleblower law firm Maryland citizens can rely on in at-will employment states such as Maryland and many of its surrounding states.
Both government and private-sector employees are supposed to be protected against employer and/or supervisor retaliation in the event that they report fraud, illegal and/or unethical activities or practices. Even when an employer or organization is blatantly doing wrong, an employee who “blows the whistle” on this may suffer from retaliation from the employer. This is one of the many reasons that people who are whistleblowers or who are thinking about becoming one, need the protection of a law firm that is experienced at successfully defending whistleblower’s rights, reputations, and financial well-beings.
At-Will Employment States
Maryland is an at-will employment state. An at-will employment state is a state in the U.S. where an employee can be dismissed by an employer without having to establish “just cause” for their termination. At-will employment is a term used in United States labor law for contractual relationships in which an employee can be dismissed by an employer for any reason and without warning, as long as the reason is not illegal.
Examples of when it is illegal to fire someone in an at-will state include but are not limited to firing someone based on their:
- Race or ethnicity
- Religion
- Gender
- Sexual orientation
- Age
- Country of origin
If you have been fired for being a whistleblower or are suffering from retaliation for having done this in the state of Maryland and many of the surrounding states, it may be in your best interest to discuss your situation with a reputable whistleblower law firm Maryland whistleblowers and their families can trust.
False Claims Act
The False Claims Act (also known as the Lincoln Law) is a federal law in the United States that imposes liability on persons and companies who act with the intention to deceive others. Typically, this act imposes liability on federal contractors who defraud governmental programs. This is the federal Government’s tool for combating fraud against the government. It allows people who are not affiliated with the government to file actions on behalf of the government. These actions are often referred to as whistleblowing where the person performing them is referred to as a whistleblower (or whistle blower or whistle-blower).
When Should an Honest Person Call a Whistleblower Law Firm?
An honest person who wants to speak up about the wrongdoings of an employer or organization, may find it helpful to discuss their situation with a lawyer who is licensed to help whistleblowers in the state where the wrongdoings occurred. Even though there are many laws and regulations in place to protect employees from employer retaliation if they speak up about unethical and/or illegal practices, doing this can have negative consequences for the honest person. One way to combat and prevent these negative consequences is by having a law firm on their side that knows how to protect whistleblowers and their rights.
For a reputable whistleblower law firm Maryland whistleblowers and their families recommend, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation, any time of the day or night, any day of the year.
If you are concerned about an employer’s retaliation against your whistleblowing actions, a top-rated whistleblower lawyer whistleblowers have had fighting for them in the past, may help you to get answers to your questions and to provide you with the feeling of protection that you are looking for.
