Thinking of blowing the whistle?
The line may not always be clear. But your choice is.
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions here.
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Whistleblower Overview
A whistleblower is a person who exposes evidence of fraud, corruption, or other wrongdoing that occurs within an organization. Whistleblowers are often, but not always, employees, contractors, or agents of the organization who witness the misconduct while doing their jobs. Whistleblower actions are formal proceedings or complaints filed by whistleblowers with a government agency disclosing the misconduct and the supporting evidence.
Those thinking about blowing the whistle often feel overwhelmed by the crisis they are confronted with. But what many people don’t realize is that the law is on the whistleblower’s side. There are powerful protections and powerful incentives in place designed to empower the whistleblower and encourage him or her to come forward.
Things You Should Know
Whistleblower Incentives
It takes courage to speak up, and there are many risks involved. Our lawmakers recognize this, and have provided powerful financial incentives to encourage whistleblowers to come forward and reward them for the risks they take.
Whistleblower Protections
Fear and intimidation are powerful forces that keep many would be whistleblowers silent. Wrongdoers know this, and often resort to bullying and threats to keep subordinates in line. But whistleblowers have powerful legal protections to encourage them to come forward.
What is a Whistleblower?
A whistleblower is a person who exposes evidence of fraud, corruption, or other wrongdoing that occurs within an organization. While whistleblowers often feel overwhelmed by the difficult situation they find themselves in, the law is on their side.
OUR TEAM
At Elias LLC, we have a dedicated team of attorneys, investigators, and support staff focused on protecting and advocating for whistleblowers. Our team includes a former federal prosecutor and an esteemed former Special Agent in Charge, one of the highest positions in federal law enforcement. More importantly, beyond our credentials, our team works closely together to ensure that our clients feel protected, comfortable, and informed throughout the entire process.
TESTIMONIALS
Anonymous
Current Elias LLC Whistleblower Client
We are so thankful for Rich and his team for guiding and helping me and my family through a very difficult experience that I had at work. After several years of exemplary service in my professional career, my employer tried to force me to do something I did not feel right about. When I refused to do it, they were hostile and started treating me poorly. We would have been lost without Rich, who explained to us our rights and options and empowered us to take action. We highly recommend Rich to anyone in a similar situation.
Alayne Fleischmann
JP Morgan Whistleblower, as quoted in “The $9 Billion Dollar Witness: Meet JP Morgan Chase’s Worst Nightmare,” Rolling Stone, November 6, 2014.
“One of the ongoing myths about the financial crisis is that the government is outmatched by the legal talent representing the banks. But [Alayne] Fleischmann was impressed by the lead attorney in her case, a litigator named Richard Elias. ‘He sounded like he had been a securities lawyer for 10 years,’ she says. ‘This actually looked like his idea of fun – like he couldn’t wait to run with this case.’”
Kristi Lauris
We are forever grateful to Rich for his willingness to take our case. While trying to find an attorney to represent us, we were repeatedly told the complexity involved with battling a powerful, multinational corporation was too much to take on. Rich not only took our case, he fearlessly fought hard for us. He did an impressive job gathering all the necessary information to build a strong case. Rich was always available to answer any questions and took the time to make sure we understood and were comfortable with the direction our case was going. From beginning to end, Rich was focused, determined, and dedicated to achieving the best results for us while giving us respect and compassion during an extremely emotional time in our lives.
Dennis McWilliams
Retired Detective, Ft. Pierce Police Department
We are so thankful for Rich and his team for helping and guiding us through a very difficult legal situation. We decided to take action against a giant pharmaceutical company, and would not have been successful without Rich’s competence and aggressiveness. My wife and I contacted several other firms about our case, but they were all intimidated by the complexity of the facts and not willing to stand tall against the multinational corporate giant. When we contacted Rich we knew we were in the right place and being represented by a hard-nosed, compassionate guy who was willing to stick his neck out and stand up to them. He and his team worked tirelessly for us, kept us informed on the status of our case, and were relentless in pushing our case to resolution. We highly recommend Rich and will always be deeply indebted for his courage, strength and unwillingness to let a corporate giant push us around. Thank you, Rich and team!
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about our services? You're in the right place!
Question 1: How do I start the whistleblowing process?
Depending on the type of whistleblower claim you have, the claim is either filed in court under seal or confidentially with the appropriate government agency. This is the action that formally begins the whistleblower process. But the process really begins by first talking to a qualified attorney who can help you decide whether you should file a whistleblower claim, and, if so, handle the process for you.
Question 2: Can I remain Anonymous?
Some whistleblower programs, such as the SEC Whistleblower Program, expressly allow whistleblowers to remain anonymous. Others, such as the False Claims Act, do not have express anonymity provisions, but there are, in sensitive cases, ways to protect the identity of the whistleblowers. An experienced whistleblower attorney can properly guide you through these issues.
Question 3: Will I be compensated?
Potentially. If you succeed on your whistleblower claim, you will typically be entitled to 15 percent to 30 percent of the government’s recovery, depending on the type of whistleblower action brought and a number of other factors. In large recovery cases this can amount to substantial compensation. If, however, you do not succeed in your whistleblower action, you will not be compensated.
Question 4: Will it cost me anything to bring a whistleblower action?
Not unless you recover. We handle your cases on a contingency fee basis and front all costs associated with the action. This means that if you lose, you will pay nothing. If, however, you win, we will be entitled to compensation and reimbursement of costs from the amount you recover.
Question 5: What protections do I have?
As a whistleblower, you have powerful legal protections. These include the right to consult with an attorney in confidence, the right to bring the information of suspected wrongdoing to the government, and the right to be free from employer harassment, retaliation, or other adverse actions. Read more about the powerful protections in place here.
Question 6: What if my employer fires or retaliates against me?
Employers who take adverse action against whistleblowers for coming forward are subject to significant liability, including compensatory and punitive damages. While we cannot guarantee that your employer will not retaliate against you, we can assure you that if they do, we will do everything we can to ensure they are held accountable for doing so.
Question 7: How long will my case last?
The length of the case depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case, the speed with which the government investigates it, and whether there is an early resolution of the case versus a full trial and appeal. Cases typically last several years.
Schedule a Case Evaluation
If you would like to discuss a potential whistleblower matter with us, please contact Elias to schedule a free, no-obligation and completely confidential case review.
27 W. Lockwood Ave
St Louis, MO 63119
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