Whistleblower News

Increases in government spending to address the COVID-19 pandemic “have led to an unprecedented level of theft of federal funds,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) warned in recent remarks commemorating the 159th anniversary of the False Claims Act on March 2.In a broadcast by the National Whistleblower Center, Sen. Grassley said such spending has made the law, which is designed to combat fraud of taxpayer dollars, “more important than ever.” How the False Claims Act Empowers … [Read more...]

In a significant ruling for California workers, the California Supreme Court recently clarified that a whistleblower retaliation plaintiff suing under California Labor Code 1102.5 and others like him have a lower bar to sue their employers. The high court’s Jan. 27 ruling came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit asked it to clear up California courts’ mixed approach to what evidentiary standard applies in these cases. Some courts have applied the McDonnell Douglas test … [Read more...]

A federal appeals court recently ruled in favor of a California whistleblower, reviving his False Claims Act suit against his former employer, progressive lens manufacturer Shamir USA. The ruling hinged on the False Claims Act’s public disclosure bar, and on whether the company’s prior public statements about its rewards program — which the whistleblower alleged violated the FCA and Anti-Kickback Statute — barred the lawsuit. On Feb. 3, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals … [Read more...]

Whistleblowers will play a “significant” role in the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, a new federal effort cracking down on cybersecurity-related fraud, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice recently announced.On Oct. 6, 2021, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco unveiled the DOJ’s new Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, in which the department will use the False Claims Act to pursue cybersecurity related fraud committed by government contractors and grant recipients.The initiative is … [Read more...]