San Bernardino Whistleblower Lawyer

Whistleblower & Qui Tam Lawyers in San Bernardino, CA

Whistleblowers have played pivotal roles in American business and government history over the past several decades. A “whistleblower” is any individual who comes forward in good faith with their knowledge of illegal, corrupt, and unethical behavior within their place of employment. Whistleblowers have reported abuses of power, regulatory violations, and human resource scandals across the country, leading to sweeping changes that have improved employees’ lives and working conditions in many industries.

Legal Counsel for San Bernardino, CA, Whistleblowers

When a whistleblower comes forward in good faith to report misconduct to an oversight authority, they are legally protected from job-related reprisals from their employer. In other words, any form of retaliation against a whistleblower can lead to severe penalties, but affected whistleblowers are likely to require legal counsel if they hope to hold their employers accountable. They will also need guidance to successfully navigate the reporting process, ensuring the appropriate authorities receive the information they possess.

Qui Tam Whistleblower Actions Often Result in Retaliation

Similarly, a Qui Tam action is a whistleblower report filed under the False Claims Act, essentially positioning the whistleblower as taking legal action on behalf of the government. When a whistleblower files a report against any business entity for violation of government regulations, failure to abide by public policies or fraud, they could still face retaliation from their employer. The right attorney can not only help them address any retaliation they face but also potentially help them secure compensation for their report.

Ultimately, acting as a whistleblower in any capacity can be very daunting. It’s natural to fear for the future of your career and your reputation, and navigating the legal proceedings you are likely to face following your report can be incredibly stressful without legal counsel on your side. The Azadian Law Group, PC, is a team of experienced employment attorneys who offer client-focused and responsive legal representation to San Bernardino, CA, whistleblowers who are unsure how to proceed with their reports. Our goal is to help you understand your legal options, the protections available to you, and your options for resolving any injury you have sustained, and then guide you to a positive outcome in your case.

Understanding US Whistleblower Laws

The whistleblower laws of the United States are designed to encourage anyone with information about business malfeasance, fraud, corruption, or unethical behavior of any kind to come forward with what they know to the appropriate authorities. A whistleblower report, filed correctly and substantiated with relevant evidence, can potentially shape new laws affecting California businesses. Whistleblower reports can also expose mistreatment of employees and business malpractice of all kinds. Anyone with knowledge of what amounts to whistleblowing has various legal protections they should understand at the outset of their case.

It is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee for filing a whistleblower report in good faith, even if the report pertains to the employer’s behavior and could lead to penalties. “Good faith” is an important determining factor in these cases. The whistleblower cannot file their report in the hope of a reward or to inflict reputational damage or economic harm on the subject of their report. While some whistleblowers receive monetary awards in response to some of their reports, this cannot be the main driving force behind the report. The whistleblower needs to be able to demonstrate their genuine concern over the issue in question to legitimize their report and receive full protection from the whistleblower defense laws of the United States.

Common Causes of Whistleblower Disputes in San Bernardino

A whistleblower report can arise whenever a private business or entity commits fraud, misconduct, or malpractice. A whistleblower dispute can arise when a whistleblower is illegally penalized for a report they have filed in good faith or when the subject of the report disputes the basis of the whistleblower’s claims. Many of the whistleblower reports filed in the United States pertain to issues such as:

• Business fraud. An employee may come forward as a whistleblower if they learn that their employer is knowingly defrauding customers, partners, vendors, or others. This type of report may cause reputational damage and profit loss for the employer, but the employer may not take retaliatory action in response to any business fraud report filed in good faith.
• Government contract fraud. An employee of a government contractor might file a report if they learn their employer is illegally taking advantage of a government contract, inflating claimed expenses, or otherwise defrauding the government. This type of whistleblower report amounts to a Qui Tam action.
• Workplace discrimination. Employees who witness illegal workplace discrimination or harassment of their co-workers may file whistleblower reports to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and various other regulatory agencies on behalf of those affected.
• Environmental regulation violations. If an employee discovers their employer has been intentionally ignoring applicable environmental regulations and harming the environment with industrial waste, excessive emissions, or other contaminants.

Ultimately, if you believe your employer has broken the law in any way, violated your rights or the rights of your co-workers, or engaged in willful violation of applicable government regulations, you have the right to report the issue to the appropriate authorities without fear of losing your job or facing other punitive actions from your employer.

Rules for Whistleblower Retaliation and Qui Tam Claims

Whistleblower retaliation occurs when an employer takes punitive action against an employee because of a whistleblower report the employee filed. Of course, this would be wrongful termination, and it’s natural for anyone subjected to this kind of treatment to have lots of legal questions regarding their right to hold their employer accountable. Some of the most commonly reported forms of whistleblower retaliation in California include:

• Termination of the whistleblower’s employment.
• Demoting the whistleblower, transferring them to a lower-paying position, or docking pay.
• Unfair performance evaluations.
• Creating a hostile work environment for the whistleblower.

Many whistleblowers will face protracted harassment and undue mistreatment from their employers in response to their reports, often culminating with termination. An employer will likely use California’s at-will employment law to justify firing a whistleblower. Still, a good attorney will be able to call their timing into question and prove the termination was wrongful. When it comes to Qui Tam reports, the False Claims Act prevents employers from taking punitive action against any employee who files a Qui Tam report pertaining to defrauding a government program or contract.

San Bernardino Whistleblower Attorneys Are an Invaluable Asset

An experienced San Bernardino whistleblower attorney is an invaluable asset for anyone considering filing a whistleblower report about their employer. This can be incredibly stressful, and the right legal team can make a tremendous difference in the quality of your experience through the proceedings to follow.

Acting as a whistleblower is a noble but challenging situation. Unfortunately, many whistleblowers do not come forward with the information they hold out of fear of losing their jobs and facing other adverse treatment from their employers. However, you can confidently approach your case when you have an experienced San Bernardino whistleblower attorney representing you.

The Azadian Law Group, PC, can help you understand the legal protections available to you following your whistleblower report and guide you through the difficult proceedings you face. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with our team and learn more about your legal options regarding your whistleblower report in San Bernardino.