Our Pennsylvania Whistleblower Lawyers Help You Report Fraud and Maximize Cash Awards
Pennsylvania Whistleblower Lawyers - Let Us Help You Stop Fraud, Protect Taxpayers and Collect Cash Whistleblower Rewards
Tim Granitz and the Katers & Granitz Pennsylvania whistleblower lawyers helped the government recover over $10 billion since 2014 and achieved the largest False Claims Act whistleblower award in U.S. history - $170 million.
Our whistleblower attorneys assist health care professionals, bankers, mortgage brokers, defense contractors and IT professionals report fraud, waste and abuse of valuable U.S. government funds – protecting your rights and optimizing your claim for a cash reward.
We invite you to call us today and learn your eligibility for a cash award in an immediate, confidential, no-cost consultation. Potential award claimants might include Pennsylvania whistleblowers located in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Upper Darby, Scranton, Bethlehem, Bensalem, Lancaster and across the State of Pennsylvania.
Call Katers & Granitz Now: 800.669.7782 or Report Online
Pennsylvania Whistleblowers are Eligible for Cash Rewards
Whistleblower lawsuits are becoming increasingly popular as protections, rights and financial incentives for whistleblowers continue to increase.
Under the federal False Claims Act and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whistleblower programs, private citizens who report inside knowledge of fraud against the government are protected from employer retaliation and eligible to collect a percentage of any money the government recovers through successful settlement or verdict.
Although Pennsylvania does not have its own whistleblower reward program, there is usually plenty of overlap by the existing federal whistleblower programs meaning you may still be eligible to receive a reward.
Information on various types of fraud may qualify you for a whistleblower award, including:
- Defense contractor fraud
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fraud
- Bank / financial fraud
- Securities (SEC) violations
- Pennsylvania Medicaid fraud
- Medicare fraud
- Pharmaceutical fraud
- Cybersecurity violations
Because whistleblower claims involve a complex set of laws and regulations, obtaining the representation of a top rated Pennsylvania whistleblower attorney with an impressive track record fighting America’s most powerful corporations in both federal and state court is recommended.
Our Katers & Granitz Pennsylvania whistleblower attorneys have over three decades of experience protecting whistleblower rights and maximizing their claims for success.
Learn more about your rights as a whistleblower and whether you qualify for a cash award. Speak with a Katers & Granitz local Pennsylvania whistleblower attorney today in a free, fully-confidential case evaluation: 800.669.7782 or Report Online
Worried about Retaliation? Our Pennsylvania Whistleblower Lawyers Can Help
The state of Pennsylvania may not pay rewards but the state does have a whistleblower anti-retaliation law as do the feds. Under the federal False Claims Act, workers suffering illegal retaliation can receive double lost wages, future wages, attorneys fees and reinstatement if desired. The SEC Whistleblower Program offers similar protections.
The protections offered by the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law appear and are discussed at the end of this post.
Government Offers Cash Awards To Pennsylvania Defense Contractor Whistleblowers
In 2015, the U.S. government awarded more than 42 thousand defense contracts worth over $8.3 billion dollars to Pennsylvania companies including:
- Fluor Marine Propulsion ($4.65 billion - nuclear reactors for the Navy)
- The Boeing Company
- Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. ($2 billion)
- Bae Systems Land & Armaments LP
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Unisys Corporation
- Maritime Helicopter Support Company LLC
- The Day & Zimmerman Group Inc.
Under the federal False Claims Act, Pennsylvania engineers, mechanics, IT technicians, machinists and other defense contractor personnel who suspect violations of U.S. Department of Defense contract terms may file a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the government and share in a percentage of the recovery.
Pennsylvania defense contractor misconduct that violates the federal False Claims Act includes:
- Cross charging from fixed-price to cost-plus defense contracts
- Misrepresenting labor, equipment or materials costs
- Buy American violations
- Cybersecurity violations or failure to report a breach
- Truth in Negotiation Act (TINA) violations
- Billing for refurbished, used or otherwise substandard products or materials
Government contractor fraud is limited to defense contractors. The state and federal government spend billion on highway construction, airports and government buildings.
Top Pennsylvania defense contractor whistleblower lawyers at Katers & Granitz are happy to explain whether your knowledge qualifies you to file a quit tam lawsuit. We work diligently to protect your rights as a Pennsylvania whistleblower and maximize your cash award: 800.669.7782 or Report Online
Pennsylvania Health Care Whistleblowers Protect Patient Health and Federal Dollars
Pennsylvania physicians, nurses, pharmacists, sales representatives and other health care professionals have unique access to treatment or billing procedures that may constitute Medicare or Pennsylvania Medicaid fraud. Government health care programs rely on these healthcare professionals to bring False Claims Act violations to light and protect our Pennsylvania citizens.
Common examples of Pennsylvania health care fraud under the False Claims Act include:
- Upcoding and unbundling
- Providing medically unnecessary care
- Billing for services not provided
- Illegal kickbacks and patient referral agreements
- Off-label marketing
- Medical transportation fraud
- Falsifying medical records
- Altering medical documents
Our experienced whistleblower attorneys with Katers & Granitz can represent clients working within health care facilities across the state of Pennsylvania, including UPMC Presbyterian, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Reading Hospital.
Some big pharmaceutical companies also receive big bucks from the government. In 2018, AmerisourceBergen received $1.73 billion in taxpayer dollars. This is the same company that was fined $625 million that year for selling unapproved and modified drugs. The whistleblower in that case is receiving a $93,089,441.00 reward and that doesn't include any rewards from many states! Presently AmerisourceBergen is under investigation for its role in the opioid epidemic.
In 2009, a whistleblower received $78 million as part of a $$1.4 billion criminal and civil prosecution of Eli Lilly, another pharmaceutical company. That case was prosecuted in a Philadelphia federal court.
Unfortunately, Philadelphia has become one of the hotbeds of Medicare fraud. Although a smaller city, Philadelphia still gets the distinction of being in the top 10 areas of the country for healthcare fraud. In August 2018, the region received its own Medicare Fraud Strike Force. A second special strike force operates in Pennsylvania and other rural areas of Appalachia to address illegal opioid "pill mills."
The government can't audit every healthcare provider. In fact, they only audit one half or one percent per year. In high areas of healthcare fraud, whistleblowers become especially critical in the battle against fraud and greed. Our Pennsylvania whistleblower lawyers can help you protect patients, stop fraud and earn a reward. We are also ready to protect you from illegal retaliation.
If you have inside information on PA Medicare or Pennsylvania Medicaid fraud, contact a Katers & Granitz whistleblower attorney for a no-fee absolutely confidential consultation: 800.669.7782 or Report Online
Philadelphia False Claims Ordinance | Allegheny County False Claims
Although Pennsylvania remains one of the minority of states without a whistleblower reward program, cities and counties are free to adopt their own. Both Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) and Philadelphia have adopted their own whistleblower reward programs. Modeled off the federal False Claims Act, these programs pay between 10% and 30% of whatever is collected from wrongdoers.
We Maximize Cash Awards for PA Securities Fraud Whistleblowers
The Dodd-Frank Act and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whistleblower program offer cash awards to Pennsylvania whistleblowers who provide information on securities and commodities fraud totaling more than $1 million.
Pennsylvania’s brokers, bankers, accountants and public company insiders who report securities fraud help save millions in taxpayer dollars each year.
Common examples of securities fraud that qualify for an SEC whistleblower award include:
- Unauthorized trading
- Accounting fraud
- Shareholder fraud
- Ponzi schemes
- Cybersecurity violations
- Insider trading
- Trading price manipulation
- Mutual fund fraud
If you have knowledge of an SEC securities violation, our leading local Pennsylvania securities whistleblower lawyers with Katers & Granitz can help you report the violation in private and claim your cash reward. We represent people working with firms across the state of Pennsylvania, which might include PNC Investments, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and Hamilton Lane.
Call today for a no-obligation absolutely confidential consultation: 800.669.7782 or Report Online
Act Quickly!
Federal False Claims Act whistleblower claims have first-to-file requirements, meaning only the first person to report fraud is typically eligible for a cash award. SEC whistleblower awards and anti-retaliation protections are also subject to strict time limits. Under Pennsylvania law, whistleblowers experiencing retaliation may have as little as 180 days to seek help,
Pennsylvania Whistleblower Lawyers - Let Us Help You Get Your Reward
Our experienced federal and PA state whistleblower attorneys work hard to protect your privacy, rights and future. We look forward to explaining how our proven strategy can work for you.
Call Tim Granitz and the Katers & Granitz whistleblower fraud recovery team for a private, no-fee consultation: 800.669.7782 or Report Online
Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law
[Editorial comments appear in italics.]
AN ACT providing protection for employees who report a violation or suspected violation of State, local or Federal law; providing protection for employees who participate in hearings, investigations, legislative inquiries or court actions; and prescribing remedies and penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Whistleblower Law.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Appropriate authority." A Federal, State or local government body, agency or organization having jurisdiction over criminal law enforcement, regulatory violations, professional conduct or ethics, or waste; or a member, officer, agent, representative or supervisory employee of the body, agency or organization. The term includes, but is not limited to, the Office of Inspector General, the Office of Attorney General, the Department of the Auditor General, the Treasury Department, the General Assembly and committees of the General Assembly having the power and duty to investigate criminal law enforcement, regulatory violations, professional conduct or ethics, or waste.
"Employee." A person who performs a service for wages or other remuneration under a contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied, for an employer.
"Employer." A public body or any of the following which receives money from a public body to perform work or provide services relative to the performance of work for or the provision of services to a public body:
(1) An individual.
(2) A partnership.
(3) An association.
(4) A corporation for profit.
(5) A corporation not for profit.
[Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law is limited to government employers and state government contractors. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is one of approximately 20 states that doesn't pay rewards to whistleblowers. It is fairly unique in that its anti-retaliation law doesn't apply to all employers. The good news is that since Medicaid and Medicare are funded in whole or in part by federal dollars, both are covered by the federal False Claim Act which does pay rewards. A bevy of federal whistleblower protection laws may also apply even if state law doesn't offer any protections.]
"Good faith report." A report of conduct defined in this act as wrongdoing or waste which is made without malice or consideration of personal benefit and which the person making the report has reasonable cause to believe is true. An employer is not barred from taking disciplinary action against the employee who completed the report if the employee's report was submitted in bad faith.
[Even if your information later turns out to be incorrect, you are still protected if you made your report in good faith.]
"Public body." All of the following:
(1) A State officer, agency, department, division, bureau, board, commission, council, authority or other body in the executive branch of State government.
(1.1) The General Assembly and its agencies.
(2) A county, city, township, regional governing body, council, school district, special district or municipal corporation, or a board, department, commission, council or agency.
(3) Any other body which is created by Commonwealth or political subdivision authority or which is funded in any amount by or through Commonwealth or political subdivision authority or a member or employee of that body.
"Waste." An employer's conduct or omissions which result in substantial abuse, misuse, destruction or loss of funds or resources belonging to or derived from Commonwealth or political subdivision sources.
"Whistleblower." A person who witnesses or has evidence of wrongdoing or waste while employed and who makes a good faith report of the wrongdoing or waste, verbally or in writing, to one of the person's superiors, to an agent of the employer or to an appropriate authority.
"Wrongdoing." A violation which is not of a merely technical or minimal nature of a Federal or State statute or regulation, of a political subdivision ordinance or regulation or of a code of conduct or ethics designed to protect the interest of the public or the employer.
Section 3. Protection of employees.
[This is the section of the law that protects public employees and certain vendors and contractors from retaliation. Pennsylvania's law is somewhat unique in that it has provisions to help protect the identity of whistleblowers from disclosure.]
(a) Persons not to be discharged.--No employer may discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee regarding the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment because the employee or a person acting on behalf of the employee makes a good faith report or is about to report, verbally or in writing, to the employer or appropriate authority an instance of wrongdoing or waste by a public body or an instance of waste by any other employer as defined in this act. ((a) amended July 2, 2014, P.L.824, No.87)
(b) Discrimination prohibited.--No employer may discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee regarding the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment because the employee is requested by an appropriate authority to participate in an investigation, hearing or inquiry held by an appropriate authority or in a court action.
(c) Disclosure prohibition.--An appropriate authority to which a violation of this act was reported may not disclose the identity of a whistleblower without the whistleblower's consent unless disclosure is unavoidable in the investigation of the alleged violation. ((c) added July 2, 2014, P.L.824, No.87, and July 2, 2014, P.L.826, No.88, which overlooked the Act 2014-87 amendment)
Section 4. Remedies.
(a) Civil action.--A person who alleges a violation of this act may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction for appropriate injunctive relief or damages, or both, within 180 days after the occurrence of the alleged violation.
[Covered whistleblowers experiencing retaliation only have 180 days to bring a claim!]
(b) Necessary showing of evidence.--An employee alleging a violation of this act must show by a preponderance of the evidence that, prior to the alleged reprisal, the employee or a person acting on behalf of the employee had reported or was about to report in good faith, verbally or in writing, an instance of wrongdoing or waste to the employer or an appropriate authority.
(c) Defense.--It shall be a defense to an action under this section if the defendant proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the action by the employer occurred for separate and legitimate reasons, which are not merely pretextual.
(d) Civil service employees.--An employee covered by civil service who contests a civil service action, believing it to be motivated by his having made a good faith report, verbally or in writing, of an instance of wrongdoing or waste, may submit as admissible evidence any or all material relating to the action as whistleblower and to the resulting alleged reprisal.
Section 5. Enforcement.
A court, in rendering a judgment in an action brought under this act, shall order, as the court considers appropriate, reinstatement of the employee, the payment of back wages, full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights, actual damages or any combination of these remedies. A court shall also award the complainant all or a portion of the costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney fees and witness fees, if the complainant prevails in the civil action.
[The Pennsylvania whistleblower protection law provides for reinstatement, back wages, attorneys's fees and actual damages. The federal False Claims Act anti-retaliation measure provides for double damages.]
Section 6. Penalties.
A person who, under color of an employer's authority, violates this act shall be liable for a civil fine of not more than $10,000. Additionally, except where the person holds an elected public office, if the court specifically finds that the person, while in the employment of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision, committed a violation of this act with the intent to discourage the disclosure of criminal activity, the court may order the person's suspension from public service for not more than seven years. A civil fine which is ordered under this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit into the General Fund.
Section 7. Construction.
This act shall not be construed to require an employer to compensate an employee for participation in an investigation, hearing or inquiry held by an appropriate authority, or impair the rights of any person under a collective bargaining agreement.
Section 8. Notice.
An employer shall post notices and use other appropriate means to notify employees and keep them informed of protections and obligations under this act.
Do you have information about a Pennsylvania company or doctor committing fraud? Contact our Pennsylvania Whistleblowers Lawyers for a no obligation, confidential consultation. We can help you decide whether you should blow the whistle, what type protections are available to you and whether or not you qualify for a federal whistleblower reward. To learn more, contact us online, by email [hidden email] or by phone at 800.669.7782.
*In Pennsylvania, we partner with Nicholas Guiliano and other lawyers. Primary responsibility for your case always remains with Katers & Granitz unless otherwise noted.