Employees who work in the financial services industry have uncovered and exposed fraudulent practices by some of the biggest names in the industry. Whistleblowers are true patriots who save taxpayers and the federal government millions annually. When you expose wrongdoing, you are protected under the False Claims Act (FCA) and may be entitled to a portion of the money taken back from the perpetrators.
When you raise concerns about your employer’s violations of rules issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and your employer retaliates, you are protected by the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), Section 1057 of the Dodd-Frank Act. Under the Sarbanes’ Oxley Act, there are further protections when you report a public company that makes fraudulent claims to investors and your employer retaliates. For guidance through this adversarial process, contact a Greenville financial industry whistleblower lawyer. Our experienced attorneys know how to navigate this process.
The financial industry encompasses more than banks. Insurance companies, investment firms, credit card companies, stockbrokers, and others where money or securities are traded, loaned, earned, or acquired make up the market segment. Some cases in which CFPB rules have been violated include:
Employees of financial institutions that uncover nefarious doings by employers can enforce the False Claims Act with the help of a financial industry whistleblower attorney in Greenville.
Citizens assisting the government by blowing the whistle on fraudulent activities can file qui tam lawsuits per The False Claims Act. This Act dates to the Civil War when suppliers bilked the government over goods used by the Union Army. With the help of whistleblowers, the government recouped double its losses plus penalties. Whistleblowers today assist by filing lawsuits under the False Claims Act against a company in the financial industry with the help of a Greenville lawyer. The Department of Justice may or may not intercede.
It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against a whistleblower. CFPA laws prohibit employers from firing, intimidating, blacklisting once fired, threatening, or disciplining employees for engaging in whistleblower activities.
A financial industry whistleblower attorney in Greenville will gather evidence to prove the employee’s conduct, protected under the law, contributed to the employer’s retaliatory actions. The conduct does not have to be the sole reason the whistleblower was punished. When the retaliation is committed shortly after the whistleblower’s actions, courts can presume the two acts are connected, according to Van Asdale v. Int’l Game Tech., 577 F.3d 989, 1001 (9th Cir. 2009).
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigates retaliatory complaints. Should it verify a complaint, OSHA can order the employer to reinstate the employee along with other relief.
Several programs allow whistleblowers to receive monetary awards for their actions. These awards are between 10 and 30 percent of what the government receives. Restrictions apply. For instance, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will negotiate an award for information that leads to the recovery of at least $1 million. Financial industry whistleblowers can even submit anonymous tips through their Greenville lawyer.
Whether you are ready to file a qui tam lawsuit against your employer or have filed one and your employer is retaliating by harassing or threatening you, we can help. Illegal, fraudulent acts cost the government and taxpayers countless losses each year, and your actions to halt bad behavior benefit everyone.
The federal government recognizes your contributions by allowing you to sue your employer on its behalf and share in the recovery. You can be reinstated in your job if your employer fires you. We have the resources to assist you through this federal process. Call a Greenville financial industry whistleblower lawyer now.