The U.S. Secretary of Labor announced the creation of the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC), to advise, consult with and make recommendations to the Department of Labor on ways to improve the fairness, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's whistleblower protection programs. The WPAC members will use their expertise to provide valuable advice and recommendations to help OSHA strengthen and improve its whistleblower protection program.
"Protecting workers who identify wrongdoing is an essential cornerstone of the U.S. Department of Labor's worker protection enforcement efforts," said the Labor Secretary.
The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments. We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud. Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.
The Journal of Accountancy reports that the Internal Revenue Service has proposed regulations for whistleblower awards in violation of tax law cases and for the disclosure of tax return information. The proposed regulations are intended to provide general rules for submitting claims to the IRS, rules for proceedings, and factors to evaluate the size of an award. Read the Proposed Regulations.
The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments. We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud. Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.
The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments. We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud. Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.
President Obama today signed the Whistleblower Protection Enahncement Act into law. The law, which was passed by both houses of Congress by unanimous consent, expands the protections for federal workers to report misconduct, fraud and illegality, expands the penalties imposed for violating whistleblower protections, and establishes a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsmen in certain federal agencies.
The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments. We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud. Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.
The New York Times today ran an article titled "The Price Whistle-Blowers Pay for Secrets," in which lawyers and government officials warn potential whistleblowers of the risks and pitfalls of, well, blowing the whistle. One lawyer is quoted in the article as saying, "You see a high degree of bankruptcies. You may find yourself unemployable. Home foreclosures, divorce, suicide, and depression all go with this territory."
Besides the emotional cost, the article goes on to say that payouts are usually in the tens of thousands rather than the millions, and that the trials can take years.
The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments. We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud. Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.
The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments. We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud. Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.
A CVS subsidiary, RxAmerica, has agreed to a $5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice based on allegations that they defrauded the Medicare prescription drug plan. RxAmerica allegedly received Medicare Part D payments for covered generic prescription medication at prices that were sometimes significantly higher than pricing data the company submitted to Medicare's web-based Plan Finder tool. This not only cost the Medicare program money, but also allegedly caused beneficiaries losses when they entered a gap in their coverage (frequently referred to as the "donut hole") due to the price difference of their medication. The two whistleblower plaintiffs in the case should be eligible for up to 30% of the settlement according to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, but the press release from the Department of Justice did not specify the amount.
The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments. We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud. Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.
Rust-Oleum Corp, an Illinois paint manufacturer, has reached a settlement with As You Sow in response to allegations of inadequate warning of toluene in paint products under Proposition 65. Rust-Oleum agreed to supply warning labels to products still on the shelves. As You Sow sent 60-day notices of Proposition 65 violations to more than 40 paint and adhesives companies between October 1992 and January 1993. Chanler & Associates represented As You Sow in the legal proceedings of all the cases.
In a series of actions that have highlighted interest in the enforcement of Proposition 65, As You Sow has singularly filed and settled more than 125 Propositions 65 lawsuits within 18-24 months of startup. As You Sow has collected more than $1 million in reimbursements for investigative costs and attorney's fees from manufacturers of spray paints, adhesives, and nail polishes. The organization, said its attorney, Clifford Chanler of the San Francisco firm Chanler & Associates, is focusing on the chemical toluene, which was involved in all of these cases.