The SEC has already made whistleblower awards of almost $180 million to 22 individuals in the first quarter of fiscal 2021–which runs from October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. In fiscal year 2020, the SEC paid a record $175 million to 39 tipsters, but it has already broken...
This fall, the Securities and Exchange Commission revamped its whistleblower awards program for the first time in 10 years. Those reforms — touching on who is eligible to receive an award for bringing tips to the agency; how large the award might be; and the actual process to submit...
On December 22, 2020, the SEC awarded a whistleblower more than $1.6 million for providing a tip which directly led to a successful enforcement action. Whistleblowers Are Key to Fighting Corporate Fraud The whistleblower produced crucial information and personal knowledge about an ongoing fraudulent scheme, while offering extensive assistance...
On December 18, 2020, the SEC announced three different whistleblower awards totaling over $3.6 million. Because the SEC does not disclose details about its whistleblower awards unless the enforcement action is public, there is no information about the cases themselves except for the SEC’s bare-bones press release. (This is...
On December 18, the Justice Department announced that drug company Biogen, Inc., agreed to pay $22 million to settle a False Claims Act case related to Medicare fraud. Charities Used to Hide Copay Kickbacks When a Medicare patient buys a prescription drug covered by Medicare, they may have to...
On December 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had awarded more than $300,000 to a whistleblower for sharing information that lead to a successful enforcement action. Audit Professionals Often Have Information About Illegal Practices The whistleblower became aware of the potential securities law violations in connection...
A study conducted by the Ethics Resource Center found that 62 million Americans have witnessed fraud or misconduct at work. Whistleblowers are key to combatting this widespread corporate corruption. Many people who see corporate wrongdoing rightfully fear that speaking up will cost them their jobs and livelihoods. This is a...
On December 9, the Los Angeles Times published a bombshell investigation exposing a huge increase in health care fraud at hospices in California. Los Angeles County is home to the largest number of hospice providers in the country. Unfortunately, many of these providers don’t have the best interests of their patients at heart....
Department of Justice Reaches False Claims Act Settlement Based on Whistleblower Tip On December 3, the Department of Justice announced that it had entered into a settlement with Workrite Ergonomics, LLC, a Delaware company, and its parent, Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Co. related to claims brought by a False...
Department of Justice Reaches False Claims Act Settlement Related to Medicare Fraud On November 20, the Department of Justice announced that it had entered into a settlement with Doctor’s Choice Home Care, Inc, and its former executives related to claims brought by False Claims Act whistleblowers. The settlement resolved a...