Our Whistleblower Attorney Protects Your Rights When You Expose Corruption
When someone defrauds the federal government, the potential harm is immense. Poorly manufactured equipment that doesn’t meet promised specifications can place military personnel and other federal employees in danger. When the fraud is financial, citizens pay more in taxes. When you witness actions that lead you to suspect fraud, having our whistleblower lawyer on your side can protect your rights and interests from repercussions.
The federal government has protections in place for whistleblowers. It also provides the possibility of a financial reward for those who bring the truth to light. Still, those reporting the fraud could face backlash, accusations of lying, and loss of professional standing. You should not have to suffer these setbacks when you are doing the right thing. The Amsberry Law Firm appreciates the courage and integrity of whistleblowers. Our whistleblower attorney will have your best interests in mind.
We can guide you through the process of filing a qui tam lawsuit. Contact us today for a confidential consultation at (210) 354-2244.
What Does a Whistleblower Lawsuit Involve?
A whistleblower is someone who has evidence of wrongdoing. He or she then chooses to bring the evidence to light to hold the wrongdoer accountable. Making the decision to bring evidence of fraud to public attention can be a challenging one. Beyond the fear of retaliation, the whistleblower could be at least partially culpable in the wrongdoing, meaning protection from prosecution is an important consideration.
A whistleblower must have evidence of the fraud or other criminal action. This can involve government contractors who misuse funds, perform services that involve fraud, or create products that don’t meet the standards required. Some whistleblowers may present evidence of fraud against private companies, but most of the time, a whistleblower lawsuit involves fraud against the government.
Our Whistleblower Lawyers Will Fight Hard to Recover Taxpayer Funds
Our team will represent private citizen whistleblowers in their lawsuits. We take pride in helping to combat fraud against the government. Count on the team at the Amsberry Law Firm to protect your interests. Russell Amsberry has been serving clients for nearly three decades. He has significant experience as a False Claims Act litigation lawyer. He is a former military service member who believes strongly in combating fraud against the Department of Defense (DoD).
As an added incentive for people to come forward with information about fraud against the government, whistleblowers sometimes can receive a percentage of the funds recovered. Our whistleblower law firm will help you determine whether your case could involve the recovery of funds and a financial reward for you. Our goal is to not only achieve but to exceed the expectations of our clients throughout San Antonio and the surrounding counties.
What Kinds of Cases Does Our Whistleblower Lawyer Handle?
We try to focus our whistleblower work on cases involving uncovering fraud against the government and the American public. The cases we work with include the following.
Medicaid and Medicare Fraud
The American Medicaid and Medicare systems involve a large number of complexities. This can make it difficult to spot fraud, especially if a savvy person or entity finds a loophole. Because such fraud can involve multi-millions and billions of dollars, whistleblowers who file a lawsuit on behalf of the government against doctors, medical organizations, hospitals, and similar agencies can regain massive amounts of taxpayer dollars.
In the same vein, billing organizations can attempt to engage in fraud by creating fake or unnecessary billings to Medicare or Medicaid. It can be challenging for the oversight bodies dealing with these programs to discover the fraud on their own. With the help of our whistleblower lawyer, those who witness this type of fraud can file a lawsuit that brings it to light and protects taxpayer money.
Defense Contractor Fraud
The use of defense contractors is a common occurrence for the federal government. This is an efficient way to tap into the ingenuity of the private sector to aid in the national defense. Occasionally, however, a contractor may try to increase profit margins on contracts by ignoring the DoD’s requirements and specifications. This type of fraud not only wastes taxpayer money, but it also places American soldiers in potential danger from shoddy equipment.
Our firm takes great pride in representing military members and citizens who witness this type of fraud and who are willing to step forward. Our whistleblower lawyer believes strongly in giving American military personnel the best possible equipment to keep them as safe as possible and to allow them to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Placing a halt to fraudulent behavior plays a big role in achieving this goal.
Federal Securities Laws Violations
Our whistleblower lawyers also will file lawsuits on behalf of whistleblowers who have evidence of wrongdoing from stockbrokers or corporations. In the publicly traded markets, those involved must follow the rules about the release of information. Investors must have accurate and timely information. When wrongdoers in the financial sector are releasing information that isn’t true or are withholding information, this is a sign of fraud that a whistleblower can reveal, leading to significant fines and penalties.
Fraud Within the Government
It’s possible for government employees who witness fraud, illegal actions, and unethical behavior from superiors to also bring a whistleblower lawsuit. When government employees are witnessing things like violations of regulations, violations of laws, abuse of authority, mismanagement of funds, or danger to the public safety, they can become whistleblowers. Our team can bring your evidence to light, while also working to protect you from the consequences of retribution, such as a pay cut, a demotion, or a job loss.
Our Whistleblower Law Firm Will Work Tirelessly on Your Behalf
Cases accusing other people or entities of fraud can be extremely challenging to navigate. Even when you have significant evidence that shows the fraudulent behavior of others, you can expect a major fight. When facing massive fines or potential prison time, those accused of fraud will fight as hard as they can to avoid prosecution.
Count on the team at the Amsberry Law Firm to fight even harder for you. We understand the importance of supporting whistleblowers in their efforts to bring fraudulent behavior to the attention of authorities. Should you be facing retaliation for speaking out, you can be certain we will stand by your side and help you receive protection through the Office of Special Counsel. When you are ready to confidentially discuss your whistleblower case with us, call (210) 354-2244 for a consultation.
In Our Client’s Words
Learn How Our Whistleblower Lawyer Handled a Difficult Case
“Excellent and dedicated service that lead to a favorable outcome regarding my very complicated case. Despite all the obstacles my own healthcare needs and COVID contributed to over the course of the case Amsberry Law maintained the highest level of professionalism and attention to detail.” – Nick (Google Review)
How Does the False Claims Act Work?
The federal government initially enacted the False Claims Act in 1863 to protect the Union against fraudulent defense suppliers. After multiple changes to the act in the decades that followed, the latest version of the False Claims Act in 1986 gave whistleblowers a wide-ranging ability to bring lawsuits to protect the government against fraudulent behavior.
When a private citizen files a lawsuit on behalf of the government under the False Claims Act, the court refers to the private citizen as the “relator.” Our whistleblower attorney will represent you in filing this lawsuit in federal district court. In some cases, the Department of Justice will choose to intervene and take over the case. Otherwise, you can choose to continue on your own with representation from our whistleblower lawyer.
Does the Government Actually Recover Taxpayer Dollars With These Cases?
The False Claims Act has a track record of success in stopping fraudulent behavior and in recovering money.
According to the Department of Justice, it obtained more than $2.2 billion in judgments against those committing fraud against the federal government during fiscal year 2020.
In many cases, the relator who initially brought the evidence of fraud to light is able to receive a percentage of the judgment in the case, usually between 15% and 30%.
Although the government is able to bring its own lawsuits against those committing fraud, the true success of the False Claims Act occurs when private citizens unveil the wrongdoing. Whistleblowers have the on-the-ground knowledge of the fraudulent behavior. The private citizens are able to provide evidence and firsthand knowledge of potential fraud that the government prosecutors rarely can obtain on their own without a heads-up from a whistleblower. We understand how this system operates, and we work hard to represent private citizens in this process.
Working With Our Qui Tam Lawyer
As part of the False Claims Act, you may hear an odd term: qui tam. This is simply a Latin term that indicates someone suing on behalf of a ruling party and of himself or herself.
Because the majority of whistleblowers will be going through this process for the first time, having our qui tam attorney on your side will give you the peace of mind you’re seeking. Our experience with these kinds of cases can help you navigate the process as successfully as possible.
How Our Whistleblower Attorney Can Help
When you select us to represent you in your whistleblower case, we can perform a number of important actions on your behalf. Our advice about your case will begin during an introductory confidential meeting. It will continue after you choose us to be your representative.
- Case Evaluation: During our initial consultation, we will study the basic facts in your case. We will attempt to determine whether we should proceed with the facts you have on hand or whether we may need additional evidence. You can count on us to be honest and straightforward about the strength of your case.
- Start the Case: After collecting the evidence needed to create the strongest possible case, we will be ready to file the lawsuit. It’s important to follow all of the processes and rules for filing a whistleblower case in court. You can trust us to keep your case on track and to do everything by the book.
- Work With the DOJ: After the initial filing of the case, the Department of Justice (DOJ) may choose to take over the case from us. This can lead to a more favorable outcome. The DOJ takes on only cases which they have the best chances of winning. And with the DOJ’s resources behind the case, it often leads to a better potential outcome. Even if the DOJ chooses not to take on the case, however, we do have the option of continuing on our own.
- Provide Advice and Support: At every step along the way of the case, we will stand by your side. Whistleblower cases can be extremely stressful for the relator. We want to make the case go as smoothly as possible for you, but we also know there will be hiccups along the way. Count on our team to anticipate potential problems and to work to counteract them as quickly as possible.
- Fight for Your Compensation: Once it becomes clear that the fraud case is going to go our way, we then can begin working toward ensuring that the amount of compensation you receive is as high as possible. As a reward, relators, as the whistleblower, often are able to receive a percentage of the taxpayer funds recovered through the lawsuit. We will guard your interests in this phase of the lawsuit, ensuring that you receive the correct financial award and the credit you deserve.
As an additional consideration, it is important for you to feel comfortable with our team. Together, we will be spending a lot of time evaluating evidence and determining the best path forward. We want you to feel like you can trust us to always have your back. We will spend the time necessary to understand what you want to achieve with your case and any concerns you may have. We fight for you and the cause you believe in at all times.
Count on Our Whistleblower Lawyer to Always Guard Your Interests
At Amsberry Law Firm, our team takes pride in the work we do throughout the San Antonio area and the surrounding counties to combat fraud against the government. We know how important it is for private citizens to stand up to fraud, and we support their efforts. We understand that fraud cases against any level of government can take multiple turns. Depending on the type of fraud that occurred, the work involved to understand all of the nuances of the case can be extremely challenging.
You can be certain we will take the time to learn about all aspects of your case. We will be ready for any twists and turns as the case progresses.
We do not take the responsibility of representing a whistleblower lightly. We know the courage it takes to bring a case like this to the public’s attention, and we want to support you in your journey.
Our team does not back down in tough situations, and we will stand by your side from start to finish. Contact our whistleblower attorney as soon as possible at (210) 354-2244 for a confidential consultation.
Attorney Russell J.G. Amsberry
Attorney Russell J.G. Amsberry founded the Amsberry Law Firm in 1995 with the goal of providing clients with exceptional, focused representation on their issues. His success as a legal advocate has been reflected in the numerous professional honors he has received, such as speaking engagements and inclusion in Scene in SA magazine’s listing of the best lawyers in San Antonio, a Distinguished rating from Martindale-Hubble, and an amazing rating from Avvo. [ Attorney Bio ]