The False Claims Act (FCA), also known as the “Whistleblower Act,” is a federal statute enacted in 1863 that enables a private citizen with knowledge of fraud committed against the federal government (often described as a “whistleblower”) to file a lawsuit seeking triple the damages and penalties on behalf of the government. Many states and municipalities have promulgated their own similar laws designed to combat fraud against state and local governments. In successful prosecutions, the Whistleblower Act, and its state and local law equivalents, generally allows whistleblowers to obtain a substantial monetary award, ranging between 15% and 30% of the total case recovery. In 2012 alone, it is estimated that federal and state whistleblower claims resulted in more than $9 billion in recoveries.
Cliff Chanler, founder of The Chanler Group, in association with Michael Hirst, founder of Hirst Law Group, P.C., have successfully represented Whistleblower Act clients in state and federal whistleblower cases involving a wide range of frauds against the government. The attorneys have been instrumental in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in Whistleblower Act prosecutions, including cases involving health care fraud, contract fraud, and virtually every other kind of whistleblower case. Notably, Mr. Hirst a former federal prosecutor and supervising prosecutor of Whistleblower Act cases for 15 years was the lead attorney in the FCA case against Redding Medical Center and Tenet Healthcare, Inc., which resulted in a record-setting $62.55 million recovery, the largest against a single hospital in US history.
The Chanler Group has successfully prosecuted more whistleblower cases, under the Whistleblower Act and other whistleblower statutes, than any other law firm in the United States. Through its unparalleled investigative staff, which is likely among the largest and most qualified of any private law firm in the country, The Chanler Group is able to provide its clients with exceptional representation in Whistleblower Act claims.
