Monthly Archives: March 2014
Transferring Confidential Data to IRS Earns SOX Protection for Whistleblower
Not everyone can see the truth, but he can be it. Franz Kafka The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, in Vannoy v. Celanese Corporation, recently ruled in favor of a whistleblower who claimed retaliation after taking sensitive information from his employer and giving it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). While the decision indicates the […]
Retaliating Against a Nuclear Power Whistleblower
From the recent reports of retaliatory acts against whistleblowers, some wonder if the protections under the Dodd-Frank Act proscribing retribution against tipsters are known to companies and government offices. Regardless of whether a company committed fraud or other illegal acts, punishing employees who reported their suspicions is illegal. We will examine two whistleblowers who put […]
The Bed Bug Whistleblower is Awarded Back Pay
A federal court ordered S.E.M. Villa II Inc., a nonprofit corporation that operates a retirement home in Milford, Ohio, to pay a former manager $20,000 in back pay. The former manager filed a complaint with the Clermont County General Health District alleging that S.E.M. Villa II was mishandling a bedbug infestation at the retirement home. […]
The Securities and Exchange Commission Whistleblower Program Breaks Out with a $14 Million Award
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a $14 million award to a whistleblower whose tip led to an enforcement action. The whistleblower, who remains anonymous, gave original information to the SEC that enabled the agency to complete its investigation and enforce the matter in less than six months from receiving the tip. This is […]
Adopt an Internal Whistleblower Policy
It is highly recommended for companies and organizations to implement a strong internal whistleblower policy. The primary reasons for a corporate whistleblower system are to protect the company and its chief executive officer and chief financial officer from criminal indictment and the ensuing penalties and to protect the shareholders from losses of their equity interests. […]
Big Payout Rings Bank of America Fraud Trial
Money, not morality, is the principle commerce of civilized nations. – Thomas Jefferson Edward O’Donnell, a former executive at Countrywide Financial, Inc., may collect up to $1.6 million under an almost forgotten 1980s law. O’Donnell filed a whistleblower suit against the Bank of America last year under the False Claims Act, which empowers whistleblowers to bring […]
Blow Your Green Whistle to Protect the Environment
The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that assists the agency in accomplishing its goals more efficiently. OIG conducts audits, investigations and evaluations of EPA programs and its contractors to promote effectiveness and prevent fraud, abuse and waste. OIG is dedicated to making America cleaner and […]
