Monthly Archives: August 2017
ACA Whistleblower Claim Revived by Justice Department Review Board
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Administrative Review Board recently revived a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) claim made by a whistleblower who was a former nurse at the Medical Center of Aurora. The board says an administrative law judge was mistaken in finding she did not meet the requirements for an ACA whistleblower […]
DOJ Claims UnitedHealth Group Overbilled Medicare by Hundreds of Millions
The U.S. Department of Justice recently sued UnitedHealth Group, claiming the company’s senior executives were aware it was overbilling Medicare by hundreds of millions of dollars annually and that they put a stop to a repayment plan in 2014 to meet revenue expectations. The official complaint was filed in May in the U.S. District Court […]
SEC Awards Whistleblower $500,000 After Tip About Misconduct
In May, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) awarded a whistleblower more than $500,000. The company insider had provided valuable information to the agency that “prompted an SEC investigation into well-hidden misconduct” and led to a successful agency enforcement action. The award marked the second in a week by the SEC after more than […]
Important Questions for Potential Whistleblowers to Consider
Blowing the whistle when you discover wrongdoing within your business or organization could create a great deal of turbulence in both your personal and professional life. Therefore, it’s important to consider all the possible consequences and outcomes before you decide to act. The following are a few questions you should ask yourself before serving as […]
SEC Whistleblower Awarded Nearly $4 Million
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a new whistleblower award in April. This time, the payout was worth nearly $4 million for a whistleblower who provided a valuable tip to the agency, and then assisted with the follow-up investigation. According to the SEC, the whistleblower provided the agency with “detailed and specific information […]
ERISA Lawsuit Filed by Former Disney Employee Dismissed
Walt Disney Co.’s 401(k) fiduciaries will not have to defend a class action lawsuit that challenged their choice to allow participants in the investment plans to invest their assets in a mutual fund that heavily invested in Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. stock. The participants’ amended lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Percy Anderson on April 21. […]
Texas Court Orders $2 Million Penalty for Debt Collector
A federal court in Texas ordered Timothy L. Ford, president of Commercial Recovery Systems, Inc., to pay $2 million in penalties for a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The verdict came at the request of the Federal Trade Commission. Ford was accused of falsely threatening debtors, a significant violation of the FDCPA. […]
Recent Cases in Pennsylvania Reflect Potential Expansion of Damages Available to Whistleblowers
With more employees than ever becoming aware of the federal protections available for whistleblowers, there has been a corresponding rise in unhappy workers looking to sue their former employers. However, in at-will employment states like Pennsylvania, proceeding with these claims is not always a viable prospect. Recent trends, however, appear to provide greater relief to […]
Cardiovascular Systems to Pay $25 Million in Jury Verdict
A jury in California has awarded $25.1 million in damages to a former employee of Cardiovascular Systems Inc. after determining the company wrongfully fired him. The employee, who was at one point a regional sales manager for CSI, filed the lawsuit against the company in 2015. In the suit, he claimed the medical device manufacturer […]
