Whistleblower/False Claims Act

Often the federal government and the state government lack the resources and staff to adequately monitor and supervise the individuals and corporations with whom they do business.

In order to uncover fraud and abuse, both the Massachusetts and the federal government have increasingly relied on corporate and business informants (known as “snitches”) to come forward and expose criminal activities that defraud people. consumers and the government. To encourage this type of behavior, governments have enacted whistle-blowing laws (called “False Report Laws”) that provide incentives for whistleblowers to come forward, while protecting them from retaliation, such as termination or demotion.

In Massachusetts, an attorney can file a qui tam civil lawsuit on behalf of the complainant (snitch) and the state. Once the lawsuit is filed, the State can intervene with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, taking over and processing the lawsuit. The process is similar under the Federal False Reporting Law. Under Federal Law and the Massachusetts False Reporting Act, a whistleblower is entitled to a certain percentage of recovered income in the event the government is successful in claims against a corporation, either through a settlement or in a judgment.

Any whistleblower who comes forward to report corporate fraud or abuse will need to find a trial law firm with experience handling complex claims. In addition to our personal injury practice, SUGARMAN attorneys have successfully litigated a wide range of fraud and commercial lawsuits. Our attorneys have the experience and resources necessary to process any whistleblower claim under the Massachusetts False Reporting Law or the Federal False Reporting Law. We are ready and able to speak to any complainant about a potential claim.

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