Thousand Oaks Whistleblower Attorneys

Your work should not put you in fear of legal repercussions from the federal or state government.

Employees should not feel pressure to perform illegal acts at work, and they should have freedom to report their employers’ wrongdoings.

The government agrees with this and has enacted multiple laws to protect whistleblowing employees from employer retaliation.

If you need this type of protection, our experienced Thousand Oaks whistleblower attorneys can help you make the most of your legal rights. Contact us today.

What Is a Whistleblower?

There are multiple definitions of “whistleblower” found in different state or federal laws. Among the many laws, the general definition of a whistleblower is an employee who:

• Reports their employer’s unlawful activities to the appropriate authorities; 
• Participates in the investigation of, or litigation against, their employer’s unlawful employment practices; or 
• Refuses to perform illegal acts that their employer requests. 

Reporting violations does not have to be part of an employee’s job duties for them to be a whistleblower. Any employee who properly voices a disagreement or complains about unlawful schemes at work can seek refuge under the law. 

What Is an Unlawful Activity? 

Any time your employer takes part in or encourages activities that violate local, state, or federal laws or regulations, you could have a whistleblower issue on your hands.

Among the illegal activities you could report or refuse to participate in are:

• Noncompliance with work safety rules;
• Violations of securities laws;
• Noncompliance with licensing or permit requirements;
• Tax fraud;
• Noncompliance with family and medical leave laws;
• Financial crimes; 
• Violations of anti-discrimination laws;
• Noncompliance with wage and hour laws;
• Financial fraud;
• Violations of anti-retaliation laws;
• Insurance fraud;
• Violations of environmental protection rules;
• Noncompliance with food safety rules; and
• Other illegal activities.

This is not an exhaustive list of the unlawful activities you could report or refuse to participate in. However, this list should give you an idea of the expansiveness of whistleblower protection laws. 

If you have any concerns about the legality of your employer’s actions, talk to an experienced employment attorney. Your attorney can help you protect your livelihood when you speak out against unlawful behavior. 

What Is Proper Reporting?

Reports of your employer’s illegal deeds must be made to the proper authorities first. This helps you maintain your rights to the safeguards in many whistleblower laws.

The proper authorities include: 

• Supervisors, executives, and colleagues at work who have authority to investigate and correct the reported violations; 
• Law enforcement; or
• Government agencies. 

If your employer retaliates against you for making a report to one of these authorities, you can sue them. You should contact an attorney to understand the best way to report the misconduct and preserve your legal options.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
I don't have words to thank you the king and Siegel team worked so hard on my case during the pandemic and I am so grateful and proud of my outcome with them. They are reasonable and reliable. Those you can trust .. everytime I had a question they would answer it I recommend them 100 percent.. am so thankful for the team .. my worries and stress are over .. a huge weight over my shoulder was lifted and was able to help my family during this hard time thank you so much king and Siegel team..
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Vanessa Ponce 
 
March 8, 2022
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
I was really nervous about hiring a lawyer but Julian and everyone in her office made the process as stress-free as it could be. She is kind, reassuring and confident and that helps make the process feel less scary. she also knows what kinds of outcomes are reasonable and will explain in detail why, and has a plan to get there. I cannot recommend her more highly.
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Ines Martinez 
 
March 8, 2022
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
I had the pleasure of being represented by this wonderful office and their attorneys! They were very quick about answering any questions and most times explained things so well that my questions were answered before I got the chance to ask them. I had an amazing experience, everyone is kind and very attentive to your wants and needs. A case can be very stressful and they did a great job at keeping me sane and comfortable through the entire process. I recommend them 100%.
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Adrianna Sells 
 
October 25, 2021
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
This in an incredibly professional and responsive firm. There was an ease about getting initial information, scheduling, and working with their talented team. While I found it to be true of everyone that I encountered here, it was Julian Burns King that really went above and beyond. Her expertise, experience, and knowledge of employment law and its many facets coupled with her empathy and compassion for her clients, is truly one of a kind. I would absolutely recommend King & Siegel to anyone in need of legal advice or representation.
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Jeri Mares 
 
October 12, 2021
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
Everyone at this firm was so helpful, supportive, and nice. The settlement I got changed my life and working with them was as good as a lawsuit could possibly be. I am so glad I found them for my wrongful termination suit.
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Evelyn A 
 
September 25, 2021
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
I’m glad I trusted the team of King & Seigel to handle my case they are the definition of professionalism. They were honest and very upfront with the process and kept me informed every step of the way not to mention I’m more than happy with the results. Thank you again to the team of King and Seigel.
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Ramon Rodriguez 
 
December 9, 2020
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
Julian & Elliot are very good lawyers and I am glad I trusted them with my case. When I hired attorneys, I didn't know what to look for, but I am glad I found them. They were always attentive to my case and I never felt lost even though I did not have any prior experience with litigation. Ultimately, they got a result I was happy with and I am so glad I had them to help me put this experience behind me. You would be lucky to have them in your corner.
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Ryan J 
 
August 5, 2020
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
I would like to thank this amazing duo and their staff for taking care of my friend and I. They were patient and polite, very prompt, and always professional! Thank you all so much! 💜
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Yanni Boo 
 
July 15, 2020
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

What Is Whistleblower Retaliation?

If your employer is unscrupulous enough to practice or demand illegal behavior, reporting their misdeeds could leave you vulnerable.

An unscrupulous employer probably has no qualms about retaliating against you for refusing to participate in illegality. This retaliation can come in many shapes. 

You are a victim of whistleblower retaliation if you report or decline to engage in illegal acts and, in turn, your employer:

• Fires you;
• Cuts your pay;
• Denies you a promotion;
• Gives you a poor work evaluation;
• Withholds work benefits from you;
• Initiates disciplinary action against you;
• Demotes you; or
• Transfers you.

Once again, this list is not exhaustive. But we want to make sure you know that unlawful retaliation against a whistleblower does not occur just when an employer fires you. 

You can file a retaliation complaint or lawsuit whenever a negative action is taken against you at work because of your whistleblowing.

You also have the right to file a retaliation complaint if you did not report your employer, but your employer punished you because they believed you reported them. 

Remedies for Retaliation

If your retaliation case is successful, you could win:

• Back pay,
• Compensatory damages for your financial losses,
• Job reinstatement,
• Benefit reinstatement, and
• Penalties.

Some anti-retaliation laws allow you to recover attorney fees and double back pay. To make sure you timely file your retaliation complaint with the correct government agency, it is best to speak to one of our Thousand Oaks Whistleblower lawyers immediately. 

Qui Tam Cases

You can sue your employer under the Federal Claims Act (FCA) for fraudulently obtaining money from the federal government.

This is called a “qui tam” action. You must file this type of action in the United States District Court. 

In an FCA lawsuit against your employer, you act as an extension of the United States government. The U.S. government may decide to intervene in your FCA lawsuit, or it may choose to let you litigate the entire case on your own.

If the U.S. government intervenes in your case, you have a right to between 15% and 25% of the money recovered from the litigation.

If the U.S. government does not intervene, you have a right to between 25% and 30% of the money recovered from the litigation. 

There is a hefty reward for exposing fraudulent employer activities, but you must follow complex procedural rules. With the help of a good attorney, your FCA lawsuit has the best chance for success. 

Talk to Our Thousand Oaks Whistleblower Lawyers

Confronting an employer is not easy, especially if your employer is not afraid to behave in illegal ways. But what you do to expose unlawfulness at work helps you and our community, and we want to protect you. 

At King & Siegel LLP, our Thousand Oaks whistleblower lawyers learned from the finest law schools and trained at the biggest law firms.

Our top-notch legal team can give you the best aggressive and personalized legal services.

We have won millions for mistreated employees. Do not be afraid to speak out against what is wrong, and do not let unethical employers intimidate you.

You have our legal experts in your corner whenever you are ready to discuss workplace issues. Contact us online for a free case evaluation. You don’t pay unless we win.