Florida Lawyer For Whistleblower — SEC Violations
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What Is Whistleblower Law?
In 2002, the U.S. Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, requiring publicly traded companies to give a full and honest reporting of their financial standing. The law is intended to protect investors from fraudulent and misleading information about the financial security of a company selling stocks, bonds and securities.
Under provisions of the law, any employee, ex-employee or independent contractor with knowledge of fraudulent practices at the company – committed by an individual or as a corporate policy – may file a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the government. If the government proves that accounting or reporting fraud or other illegal practices are taking place, the individual initiating the lawsuit is eligible to receive up to 35 percent of the total money recovered, which can include punitive damages and legal fees. To date, more than $3 billion have been recovered by the government through whistleblower lawsuits.
Some typical fraudulent practices that can be reported include:
- Falsifying cash position of the company
- Pyramid investment schemes, Ponzi schemes
- Falsifying earnings in stockholder reports
- Churning or inappropriate investments
- Illegal “junk bond” transactions
- Underreporting of expenses
- Illegal investments
How Do You Blow The Whistle? Talk To An Experienced Whistleblower Lawyer.
The law is very specific about how you must initiate a lawsuit. No matter where you live or work in Florida, talk to a lawyer at the Law Office of William M. Julien, in Boca Raton. For more than 25 years, we have been the litigation firm workers turn to for protecting their rights on the job.
Retaliation
It is not uncommon for an employer to retaliate against a worker who threatens to report fraud. Retaliation can come in the form of verbal threats, harassment or reassignment in the hopes of getting the worker to quit (constructive discharge), or termination. Whistleblower laws are very clear: Employers may not take retaliatory measures against an employee who reports a violation of the law. The employer may be ordered to pay punitive damages to the worker, including all legal fees.
From Anywhere In Florida, Call For A Free Consultation
If you feel the time has come to blow the whistle on your employer’s fraud, call us at 888-993-4611 or contact us by email to arrange a confidential initial consultation. You will not pay for the consultation and if we handle your case, you will not pay attorneys’ fees unless we help you recover monetary damages.