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Past Results Don’t Guarantee Future Success. The results in your case may vary depending on your particular facts and circumstances. All cases involve Jason T. Brown, Esquire and/or Brown, LLC
The Right Way
California has some of the most robust whistleblower protections and incentives in the country. In fact, California whistleblowers may be eligible for up to 50% of what the government recovers if they report private insurance fraud the right way. With experience serving residents of California, whistleblower attorneys have helped individuals reporting fraud secure tens of millions of dollars in whistleblower awards. Add that to the federal component of the False Claims Act and if you report fraud against the federal government, California whistleblowers in aggregate have received hundreds of millions of dollars.
If you believe that either an individual or company is defrauding the government or private insurance, speak to a California whistleblower lawyer today, as you may be entitled to a whistleblower reward.
At Brown, LLC, our lawyers represent individuals–like you–and help you blow the whistle the right way. In partnership with a Brown, LLC whistleblower attorney, California whistleblowers can report violations with peace of mind. Our attorneys work to safeguard against unlawful retaliation for standing up for what’s right.
Led by former Department of Justice, FBI Special Agent, Jason T. Brown, and amplified by a team of other whistleblower attorneys including other Department of Justice Alumni, our law firm has the experience to protect whistleblowers when litigating their case and forward think to address workplace retaliation. We know how to leverage state and federal law and have obtained several hundred million dollars in settlements and judgments (although past results don’t guarantee future success). We have whistleblower lawsuits in California, and we handle cases all over the country.
Looking for a qualified whistleblower attorney? California residents have access to a team of experienced attorneys with Brown, LLC. If you are in San Jose, Cupertino, Fremont, Los Angeles, San Diego, or another city in California and have information about systemic fraud pertaining to a federal, state or municipal program, or even private insurance, you should call Brown, LLC’s whistleblower attorneys today. If you have suffered any retaliation due to reporting fraudulent activity, you should especially reach out.
We work hard to win–especially since we take most whistleblower cases on a contingency basis. This means that we’re only paid if we win money for you. Navigating state and federal whistleblower laws surrounding fraudulent or illegal activity can be difficult at first, but our experienced whistleblower law firm will educate you about the process to prepare you and your potential case as we passionately prosecute the matter to obtain a whistleblower award for you. If you’re ready to discuss your case with a whistleblower attorney, California residents can book a free consultation here.
Federal and California Whistleblower Laws
The federal government has various whistleblower laws, like the False Claims Act that enables the government to use the information provided by a whistleblower to recover misappropriated funds and share a reward comprising a portion of the recovered funds with a whistleblower. However, it’s crucial to consult with a whistleblower lawyer. California also has its own special state laws like the California False Claims Act (CFCA), the California Insurance Claims Fraud Prevention Act (CICFPA), the California Whistleblower Protection Act, and certain California statutes pertaining to healthcare kickbacks, that provide avenues for whistleblowers to both expose wrongdoing and receive awards for doing so.
California has its own state version of the False Claims Act. It is substantively very similar to its federal counterpart, but there are certain differences when it comes to how to report a claim, which means it’s best to enlist the help of professional whistleblower attorneys. California is also one of two states with its own Insurance Claims Fraud Prevention Act, which permits individuals to sue on behalf of private insurance companies that were defrauded – allowing potential whistleblowers to bring suits, including Medicare and/or Medicaid.
How the Federal False Claims Act Works
Under the federal False Claims Act (FCA), a whistleblower can bring a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. government, concerning fraud affecting a federal program. Common examples are Medicare/Medicaid fraud, pharmaceutical fraud, and defense contractor fraud, but the FCA can be used to recover funds defrauded from any federal program. Note that you cannot file an FCA lawsuit on your own – you must work with a qui tam lawyer. The FCA process is both complex and full of technicalities that may have potential pitfalls. If you have insider information about fraud against the federal government, call our experienced whistleblower lawyers at Brown, LLC today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
- Overbilling
- False coding or “upcoding”
- Billing for services not provided
- Kickbacks: paying for referrals or paying a third party “a piece of the action”
Pharmaceutical Fraud
- Faking results of drug trials in order to get or keep FDA approval (yes, this happens)
- Promoting a medicine or medical device for “off-label” use
- Selling products that don’t work
- Kickbacks: giving doctors free services, goods, or cash for using or promoting a product
Defense Contractor Fraud
- Overbilling
- Billing for services not rendered or products not provided
- Kickbacks (e.g., paying someone off to get a contract)
- Not fulfilling a government contract in the manner certified to the government, including not paying the prevailing wage as
- required by the Davis-Bacon Act
- Bribing a foreign official (illegal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act)
Your rights are time-sensitive. Talk with the Whistleblowers Lawyers at Brown, LLC.
There’s no fee unless we win your case.
How much is a California whistleblower reward?
A successful whistleblower in an FCA case is entitled to between 15% and 30% of what the federal government recovers, depending on how the case is settled but under the California Insurance Claims Fraud Prevention Act you may be entitled to up to 50% of the recovery. In the last three decades, the U.S. government has paid out billions to countless whistleblowers. We have helped clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars. To learn if you may qualify for such a financial reward in California, whistleblower lawyers at Brown, LLC will discuss your case during a free, confidential consultation.
How California Whistleblower Laws Work
California False Claims Act
The False Claims Act of the State of California (CFCA) is like the federal False Claims Act, drawing much of its language from the federal statute. Of course, the CFCA is geared towards those fraudsters improperly obtaining state–not federal–funds they are not entitled to. For example, a $241 million settlement was paid by a healthcare company in 2011 for overcharging Medi-Cal and providing kickbacks to physicians and healthcare providers. Other differences between the CFCA and FCA are that California relators can receive up to 50% of a settlement reward, and the filing period for CFCA and FCA claims are different. In the past 20 years, the CFCA has recovered over $2 billion in state funds from qui tam lawsuits. Brown, LLC’s whistleblower attorneys can help you navigate your CA state fraud claim and secure a financial reward.
The California Insurance Claims Fraud Prevention Act (IFPA)
California is one of only two states – the other is Illinois – with a separate statute allowing individuals to sue on behalf of a private (commercial) insurer that has been defrauded. California’s statute is called the California Insurance Claims Fraud Prevention Act and abbreviated as (IFPA) when citing in California, but (CICFPA) when contrasting to other state laws and is a very important tool for California whistleblowers.
The California law was enacted to help protect the public from the potential consequences of large insurance-fraud losses. They cover a wide range of misconduct including upcoded health-insurance claims, kickback schemes, and many other types of fraud.
When funds are recovered as a result of an IFPA lawsuit, the whistleblower is eligible to receive between 30-40% of the recovered funds when the state intervenes, and up to 50% if the state does not join the case. However, if the court determines that the case was brought based on publicly available information, then the relator is only entitled to a maximum of 10% of the recovered funds. The whistleblower is also entitled to having reasonable expenses and attorneys’ fees paid by the defendant.
Brown, LLC offers support to whistleblowers across California, including protection for Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose whistleblowers. Lawyers at Brown, LLC are always ready to provide guidance and representation for those standing up for what’s right.
If you believe you have been retaliated against by your California employer for reporting something, contact Brown, LLC’s whistleblower lawyers today to discuss how we can help you with your potential legal claim. No matter where you’re located in California, you have access to a team of whistleblower retaliation attorneys. San Jose to San Diego, we’re here to help.
Based in the Golden State and looking for whistleblower lawyers? California residents can request a free consultation with a law firm that has experience navigating all the relevant whistleblower statutes. After a careful review of your information, Brown, LLC’s whistleblower lawyers representing clients in San Jose, Cupertino, Fremont, Los Angeles, and San Diego can discuss your options, likely outcomes, and whether it’s better to file a whistleblower claim or take a different approach. Several variables will affect the whistleblower award you may receive (if any), such as the size of the government’s recovery, whether or not the government intervenes in the action, if there is any delay in blowing the whistle, whether you yourself profited from the fraud, the extent of your cooperation and that of your counsel in the government’s investigation, and many other factors. Don’t delay – the second to file may be entitled to nothing. If you know of widespread fraud in California, report it today by calling (877) 561-0000 to learn your rights as a California whistleblower.