If you properly report fraud and your employer retaliates against you for doing so, the whistleblower statutes provide protections that allow you to file a claim against your employer for relief.
Congress does not want you to fear retaliation against you by your employer, so it made the potential damages very strong. Although the protections vary by whistleblower statute, those under the False Claims Act include:
- double the amount of lost back pay
- interest
- compensation for other special damages
- reinstatement
Most courts do not expect you to know the nuances of fraud litigation, so even if you do not have a valid qui tam suit, you may still have a legitimate whistleblower retaliation lawsuit. If you believe you were retaliated against for whistleblowing, it is important that you call or click and speak to one of our whistleblower attorneys.
For further information, review our list of Common Whistleblower Concerns and the Retaliation FAQ.
“Relief [for retaliation] shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.” 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)(2).