federal whistleblower protections Archives

Comey’s Testimony Underscores Need for Strong Whistleblower Protections

For me, the most telling moment of former FBI Director Jim Comey’s June 8th testimony occurred early in the hearing, when Mr. Comey choked up as he recalled the White House’s publicly stating that the President had fired him because the “FBI was in disarray.” This emotional display seemed out of character for Mr. Comey. … Continued

Whistleblower Lawyer Will Speak on Panel About Whistleblower and Rewards Claims: Top 10 New Developments

Whistleblower lawyer Jason Zuckerman will speak at a CLE sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association on a panel titled Whistleblower and Rewards Claims: Top 10 New Developments. Zuckerman is privileged to join attorneys Lynne Bernabei and Richard Renner. The panel will address the following topics: Recent SEC whistleblower awards and the SEC’s focus on combating … Continued

Trump Administration’s Gag Policy at the EPA is Unlawful

Several media outlets are reporting that President Trump’s political landing team at the EPA, which draws heavily from energy industry lobby and pro-drilling think tanks, is prohibiting employees from speaking to the media and Congress. Politico reports that the landing team is “limiting employees’ ability to issue news releases, tweet or otherwise communicate with the … Continued

What whistleblowing is protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act?

The Whistleblower Protection Act prohibits retaliation against federal employees, applicants, or former employees for disclosing the following types of government wrongdoing: a violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; or a substantial or specific danger to public health or safety. (5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8). The WPA … Continued

False Claims Act Whistleblower Obtains Favorable Rule on Double Back Pay

False Claims Act Whistleblower Disclosed Kickbacks In a recent False Claims Act case, a whistleblower obtained a favorable ruling on the remedies available for False Claims Act whistleblowers. In Mooney v. Americare, the whistleblower alleged retaliation for disclosing kickbacks from fraudulent referrals and the fraudulent alteration of documents submitted to Medicaid and Medicare. In … Continued

NDAA Provides Robust Whistleblower Protection

Whistleblower Protections for Employees of Government Contractors and Grantees July 2015 marks the second anniversary that the whistleblower protection provisions of the 2013 Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) became effective. The broad scope of protected whistleblowing, favorable causation standard and wide range of remedies render the NDAA an effective tool to combat whistleblower retaliation against employees … Continued

Whistleblower Lawyer Jason Zuckerman Speaking at CLE About Mastering Whistleblower, Qui Tam, & SLAPP Law

Whistleblower Lawyer Jason Zuckerman will be speaking at a CLE on March 24, 2015 titled “Mastering Whistleblower, Qui Tam, & SLAPP Law.” Click here to register. Fluency in Qui Tam, Whistleblower, & SLAPP law has become increasingly important in recent years due to changes in the law and business cycle. Over the past two decades, … Continued