LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS

CONTACT OUR HAWAII WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEYS TO LEARN MORE

It takes a considerable amount of courage to speak up when you see your employer committing illegal activities. While your decision to say something benefits many, there is a chance that your employer will retaliate if they discover what you did. There are laws to protect you from such retaliation, but sometimes employers will ignore those laws or attempt to retaliate indirectly so it appears that the company’s actions are unrelated to the actions of the whistleblower. However the retaliation comes about, it can put you in a very difficult situation.

At Davis Levin Livingston, we use our training and experience to help protect whistleblowers from the bad actions of their employer. If you feel like you are the victim of retaliation for blowing the whistle on your employer, you deserve to have an advocate on your side to stand up for your rights. Our firm is here to listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you understand what your legal options are moving forward.

Contact Davis Levin Livingston online or by phone at (808) 740-0633 for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced Hawaii whistleblower attorney. We serve clients in Honolulu and beyond.

Whistleblowing Is a Public Service

Illegal and fraudulent activity can occur in all types of industries, including the financial sector, healthcare, and government. When you speak up about the fraud or other illegal activity you see going on, you are doing those around you—and society—a huge favor. Illegal activities, like fraud, hurt individuals, organizations, and the public on many different levels, which is why there are so many laws in place to encourage whistleblowing.

Federal, state, and city laws exist to help whistleblowers speak up and to protect them from retaliation after they report illegal activity. By saying something about the illegal activity, you are helping to minimize the damage caused by these activities. You are performing a public service, and at potentially great risk to yourself, which is why it is important that you know your rights

Protection from Whistleblower Retaliation

No matter how many laws are in place to discourage retaliation, some businesses and employers will still attempt to retaliate against you for speaking up. By working with an experienced whistleblower attorney in Hawaii, you can ensure that the legal system works for you and that you are able to take advantage of all the protections currently in place. If you are considering reporting fraudulent activity, it is worth your time to speak to a qualified attorney to help guide you through the process.

If you have already reported illegal activity and are now suffering retaliation by your employer, it is important that you contact a whistleblower attorney immediately. The attorneys at Davis Levin Livingston can build a strong case on your behalf to put a stop to the actions of your employer and to get you compensation for what has been done to you.

Financial Incentives for Whistleblowing

There are a number of laws on both the state and federal level that make it possible for you to collect financial rewards for whistleblowing. Laws like the SEC Whistleblower Act and the False Claims act attempt to encourage whistleblowing through financial incentives. It may be possible to collect up to 30 percent of the amount recovered by the government from the company committing fraud.

Along with protecting you from retaliation, our firm can help you understand what financial incentives may be available to you should you choose to blow the whistle on your employer.

Types of Whistleblower Cases

Davis Levin Livingston can assist you with all types of whistleblowing cases, including:

• IRS whistleblowing – cases involving tax fraud
• SEC whistleblowing – cases involving SEC regulation violations
• Qui Tam lawsuits – cases involving fraud against federal or state government, such as fraud by government contractors, or Medicare fraud

Hiring an Appropriate Attorney for Whistleblower Cases

Informing the appropriate authorities about misconduct, fraud or any other illegal acts that take place within a company or organization is sometimes a necessity. The worry that may arise when you tell the authorities is that your employer or the accused individual may retaliate for your whistleblowing. When you are worried about retaliation or you have faced retaliation, it may be time to hire an attorney.

Set up a Consultation

Before you take any steps to hire an attorney, set up a consultation to ask questions. Even though an attorney may offer personal injury services, their area of expertise might not relate to whistleblowing. Davis Levin Livingston has been at the forefront of litigation aimed at protecting those courageous individuals who report government wrongdoing and are penalized for speaking out.

Ask About Experience

Ask questions relating to experience. Find out about the total number of years that the lawyer has been working and the number of cases related to whistleblowing . If you discover that the attorney does not have much experience, then ask about the experience of the entire firm. A law firm may have more than one attorney who works on whistleblowing cases.

Discuss Their Expertise

Experience and expertise are two different categories. Expertise relates to the type of cases that are primarily provided by an attorney. Ask about the attorney’s expertise and knowledge regarding their cases. An attorney who excels in personal injury cases that relate to businesses, organizations or corporations has the expertise to handle whistleblowing cases.

Explain Your Case

When you are not sure if you have a case, explain the situation and find out what the attorney suggests. Simply telling the authorities about illegal or fraudulent actions may not necessarily mean that you have a court case or that you need an attorney. If you are fired, face harassmentor have other problems that directly stem from your report, then it may be necessary to work with an attorney.

If you are unsure about whether you have a case or not, then an attorney may be able to help you clarify the specific laws that may apply to your specific situation.

Evaluate Your Reaction to the Attorney

Although the primary concerns related to finding an appropriate attorney should focus on experience and qualifications, do not ignore your gut feelings. If you feel that the lawyer is rude, upsetting or unable to connect with your concerns, then it may be necessary to look elsewhere for legal assistance.

The first attorney is not always the best one for your needs, particularly if an attorney is making you uncomfortable or makes you feel that you are overreacting. The best attorneys will recognize that you may be afraid of the potential consequences or reactions of your employer and will help you understand the laws that are related to your situation.

Alerting the authorities to fraud, illegal activities or similar problems within a business or organization can draw an employer’s attention to you. Working with the right attorneys will provide the confidence to move forward with your claim and make a difference in your place of work.

Trust a Firm with a History of Success

Davis Levin Livingston has been at the forefront of litigation aimed at protecting those courageous individuals who report government wrongdoing and are penalized for speaking out. The firm has made a commitment in and out of the courtroom to these individuals to ensure that individual rights to speak out against private and public wrongdoing are preserved.

Stan Levin and Michael Livingston were successful in suing the State of Hawaii for its wrongful termination of Dr. Terry Allen, a physician at the State of Hawaii prison who protested the improper medical treatment of Hawaii prisoners. Messrs. Levin and Livingston won a hard-fought court victory which was recently upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Davis Levin Livingston remains committed to representing civic-minded individuals whose courageous actions in leading the fight against illegality by public and private employers help preserve both our individual freedoms and government funding.

Whistleblower Protection in the News

• State Told To Pay $543,000 Legal Bill
• Kapiolani Case Raises Interest In Whistleblower Aid
• South Korean company will pay $1.2M to settle fire-safety equipment suit[NL1]