Qui Tam -- Whistleblowers

Houston Qui Tam Attorneys

You work at a large corporation and notice that some of the most powerful members in the boardroom are not using the stockholder's investments in the way that they have advertised. You arrive early at the factory one morning and discover that the supervisors from the overnight shift are illegally dumping industrial waste in a nearby creek. Would you report these examples of criminal activity to the proper authorities? Or, would you worry that sharing what you know would result in negative consequences for your own employment? You need to know the protections that are afforded to whistleblowers under both Federal and Texas law so that you can make the best decision for your own situation.

There are two primary federal laws that are used to defend the acts of whistleblowers. The first is the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which protects those who work for a company subject to SEC regulations and who choose to report possible instances of fraud. The other law is the Federal Civil False Claims Act and a specific provision within this act known as qui tam. Under qui tam, private citizens can file suit on behalf of the federal government charging fraud by government contractors or businesses using government money. Under both of these laws, you have the right to file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA).

Texas does not afford extensive protection to whistleblowers under its state laws. The state Whistleblower Act only protects public employees, those being defined as workers who are paid to perform services for a state or local government entity. Employees in the private sector are not protected under state laws.

If you believe you have faced retaliation at your place of employment after disclosing wrongdoing and you want to pursue your case at the state level, please know that your time is limited. First, you must notify your employer and allow sixty days for a response. If you do not receive a satisfactory response after this time period, you then have no later than the ninetieth day from which the grievance first occurred to file an official complaint. With these tight time restrictions, many whistleblowers in our state find themselves without any recourse for the professional hardships they faced. Don't let this happen to you!

At Bertolino LLP, we have labor and employment attorneys in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio who are experienced with both the federal and state laws that apply to whistleblowers. We will work with you to defend your rights, file the appropriate complaints, and protect you from any retaliation that arises from angry employers. You should not be afraid to do what you know is right!

Contact an Experienced Qui Tam Attorney at Bertolino LLP

At Bertolino LLP, we have qui tam lawyers who are ready to protect your rights and prevent any retaliation for whistle blowing. With offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, we have convenient locations to assist workers in Texas. Please contact us today so that we can get started defending your right to work and succeed! To contact the Austin office, call 512.476.5757. For the San Antonio office, call 210.223.5553. For the Houston office, call 713.225.7474. You may also contact the Firm by e-mail.