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Fictional Examples of Whistleblowers Under the False Claims Act

April 26, 2023

People call in and often ask what actually constitutes a violation under the False Claims Act and can you provide some examples. Herein are some fictional accounts of potentially viable cases under the False Claims Act that could potentially result in a whistleblower award.

First fictional example:

John had been working as a billing specialist for a healthcare company that provided medical services to elderly patients on Medicare. His job was to ensure that the company’s billing practices were in compliance with Medicare regulations and to process claims for reimbursement. However, over time, he began to notice that the company was engaging in fraudulent practices to increase its revenue.

John discovered that the company was offering kickbacks to doctors who referred patients to their services. The kickbacks were disguised as marketing fees, but in reality, they were illegal payments to induce doctors to refer patients to the company’s services. Additionally, John discovered that the company was billing Medicare for unnecessary and excessive services, including treatments that patients did not need or did not receive.

John knew that these practices were illegal and unethical, and he felt compelled to take action. He reached out to a law firm that specialized in whistleblower cases, and he filed a lawsuit under the False Claims Act, alleging that the company had defrauded Medicare and other government healthcare programs.

The law firm worked with the government and the relator  to build a case against the company, and they presented their evidence in a methodical presentation. After a long investigation, the government found that the company had indeed engaged in fraudulent practices, including offering kickbacks and billing for unnecessary services. As a result, the company agreed to pay a settlement of over $1 billion to the government to resolve the allegations.

While the situation was serious, John’s bravery and commitment to doing what was right was commendable. His decision to speak out not only brought the fraudulent practices to light, but also helped to prevent future illegal activities from occurring in the healthcare industry.

The law firm was thorough in building their case against the company. They gathered all the necessary evidence, including documentation of the kickbacks and excessive billing practices. The case was a long and difficult one, with many twists and turns along the way, but John and the law firm remained focused on the goal of exposing the company’s wrongdoing and holding them accountable for their actions.

The government officials who worked on the case commended John and the law firm for their hard work and dedication. They recognized that without John’s willingness to speak out, the fraudulent practices may have continued for years without being detected. The settlement that resulted from the case sent a clear message that fraudulent practices in the healthcare industry would not be tolerated.

In the end, John was proud to have blown the whistle on his employer’s illegal practices, and he knew that he had made a significant impact in the fight against healthcare fraud. His bravery and commitment to doing the right thing will always be remembered and due to his dedication the government agreed to pay him 20% of the recovery as a whistleblower reward which was a life changing $200 million dollars for doing the right thing.

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Second fictional example:

Jane had been working as a billing specialist for a healthcare company that provided medical services to elderly patients on Medicare. Her job was to ensure that the company’s billing practices were in compliance with Medicare regulations and to process claims for reimbursement. However, over time, she began to notice that the company was engaging in fraudulent practices to increase its revenue.

Jane discovered that the company was offering kickbacks to doctors who referred patients to their services. The kickbacks were disguised as marketing fees, but in reality, they were illegal payments to induce doctors to refer patients to the company’s services. Additionally, Jane discovered that the company was billing Medicare for unnecessary and excessive services, including treatments that patients did not need or did not receive.

Jane was unsure how to proceed so she reached out to a law firm that specialized in qui tam whistleblower cases, and commenced a lawsuit under the False Claims Act, alleging that the company had defrauded Medicare and other government healthcare programs.  Similar to John’s case, the government was receptive to the presentation and ultimately decided to intervene and settle the case for the average intervention settlement of $13 million dollars, which resulted in Jane receiving a $2.6 million dollar whistleblower reward.

Third fictional example:

Julia was a seasoned purchaser working for one of the largest import-export companies in the country. She had been with the company for years and had risen through the ranks, becoming one of the most respected buyers in the industry, often striking deals that saved millions.

One day, Julia stumbled upon evidence that her company had been intentionally undervaluing their imports to avoid paying customs duties. She knew that this was a violation of the False Claims Act, and that the potential liability for the company was tens of millions of dollars.  When confronting her supervisor about it, he indicated that everyone was doing it and to report it to HR would be the end of her career.

Despite her loyalty to the company, Julia knew that she had to act in accordance with the law. She consulted with a whistleblower law firm that specialized in False Claims Act cases, and they agreed to represent her in filing a claim against her employer.

The law firm conducted their own investigation and uncovered substantial evidence of customs fraud. They filed a False Claims Act case on behalf of Julia and the government, alleging that the company had defrauded the government out of tens of millions of dollars in unpaid customs duties.

The company denied the allegations and mounted a vigorous defense, but in the end, they were unable to refute the evidence presented by the whistleblower law firm and the government. The taxpayers successfully recovered the unpaid customs duties with a multiplier of double damages which became $24 million and Julia received a whistleblower award of $5 million dollars.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Julia faced no negative consequences from her employer for her actions. In fact, the company took steps to improve their compliance program and prevent similar violations in the future.

Julia learned that standing up for what is right is not only a moral imperative, but can also be financially rewarding. The False Claims Act is an important tool for combatting fraud and abuse, and with the help of the right whistleblower law firm, even the largest companies can be held accountable for their actions.

These are just a few fictional accounts, but if this sounds familiar to you, you should consult with a whistleblower law firm to understand your rights.