Source: https://www.tenlaw.com/category/false-claims-act-and-fraud/?post_type=services
Timestamp: 2020-07-02 19:30:28
Document Index: 413116609

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3730', '§3730', '§ 3730', '§ 623', '§ 12203', 'art 1639', '§ 2000', '§ 15', '§ 7622', 'art 24', '§ 9610', 'art 24', '§ 1132', '§ 5851', 'art 24', '§ 206', '§ 215', 'art 783', '§ 3730', '§ 2615', '§ 158', '§ 660', 'art 1977', 'art 11', '§ 300', '§ 1514', '§ 6971', 'art 24', '§ 2622', 'art 24']

Home → Services → False Claims Act and Fraud
Committed to protecting consumers from financial and physical harm
The consumer class action attorneys at Thornton Law Firm LLP understand the emotional and financial toll a corporate misrepresentation or fraud can have. Through numerous cases, we have helped victims obtain justice against companies and industries that prey on consumers:
Conveyancing/lending settlement service providers
The firm pools individual claims from around the country into powerful class actions that hold companies accountable for their conduct.
Our attorneys have extensive experience pursuing complex individual, nationwide class action, and multi-district litigation (MDL) claims in state and federal courts.
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, our attorneys can help keep you out of harms way. Call 1-888-491-9726 or contact us online for a free consultation on how we can help you today.
Changing the way companies do business, one lawsuit at a time
Thornton Law Firm is experienced in a wide range of consumer law cases:
Violation of state trade practice laws
Disregard for consumer protection laws
Flouting privacy laws
The firm is involved in the following litigation:
Claims in various jurisdictions against The Travelers Insurance Company (and other related companies), OneBeacon America Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Century Indemnity Company, and others alleging violation of consumer protection and insurance bad faith laws.
These claims arise out of underlying asbestos personal injury or wrongful death claims against various asbestos defendants who were insured by these companies. In response to the personal injury and wrongful death claims, the insurers— on behalf of the asbestos defendants— asserted an unfounded state-of-the-art defense. Because of this, the plaintiffs were forced to spend time litigating, delaying the ultimate resolution of their claims against the asbestos defendants. This delay caused the plaintiffs damages.
Claims against National Real Estate Information Services, Inc., ATM Corporation of America, First American Signature Services, Inc., Trans State Closers, Inc., Liberty Title & Escrow Co., Inc., and Service Link, Inc. alleging their use of settlement service agents who are not Massachusetts attorneys, or use of Massachusetts attorneys who have been divested of all meaningful responsibility and oversight, violates Massachusetts law.
The plaintiffs allege that the defendants and their agents are engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. As a result of these practices, Massachusetts attorneys who properly participate in and supervise the conveyancing process, such as plaintiffs and class members, have been and continue to be excluded from serving as conveyancing attorneys, which has resulted in lost business and lost revenues and profits.
Claims against various micro-chip and memory card manufacturers arising from the companies’ participation in a conspiracy to restrain the trade for and sale of static random access memory (“SRAM”). The plaintiffs allege that the defendants violated numerous laws, including consumer protection and anti-competition laws.
Claims against NVIDIA Corp., Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., and ATI Technologies, Inc. alleging that the defendants conspired to fix graphics processing unit/card prices and to wrongfully allocate those to certain customers and markets. Plaintiffs allege that these companies engaged in conduct that violates various laws, including engaging in conduct that amounts to a conspiracy in restraint of trade. The plaintiffs have sought injunctive relief.
A class action seeking payment from Philip Morris for CT scans for long-time pack-a-day smokers. The scans, which are not covered by insurance, detect lung cancer when it is still treatable. The case does not seek any monetary damages.
Thornton Law Firm class action attorneys
Trust our Massachusetts class action litigation attorneys to help
Contact the Boston law firm of Thornton Law Firm LLP online or at 1-888-491-9726 for a free consultation with a recognized leader in consumer litigation. You have nothing to risk. We offer a fair and accurate assessment of your case.
A whistleblower lawsuit is filed under the federal False Claims Act or a similar state statute. False claims acts allow people who know fraud is being perpetrated against the government to file lawsuits to stop the fraud. People who file claims are commonly referred to as whistleblowers or relators.
Whistleblowers are entitled to compensation for stopping fraud against the government. Only the first whistleblower who files a claim for a particular fraudulent act or scheme is entitled to compensation, so it is important to act quickly if you know the government is being defrauded.
Call 1-888-491-9726 or contact us online to discuss suspected fraud against the government.
Common types of fraud against the government
The federal False Claims Act, codified at 31 U.S.C. Sections 3729-3733, prohibits the following:
Knowingly presenting or causing to be presented a false claim for payment or approval
Knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used a false record or statement used in a fraudulent claim
Conspiring to violate the False Claims Act
Falsely certifying the type or amount of property used by the government
Certifying government receipt of property on a document without being certain the information is correct
Knowingly buying property for government use from an unauthorized vendor
Knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used a false record to avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit property to the government
Knowingly presenting a false claim for payment and knowingly making false statements to support a claim are the two most common violations of the False Claims Act.
IRS fraud is another common form of fraud against the U.S. government, and special rules apply encouraging IRS whistleblowers to come forward and file a claim. People with information about large tax underpayments, including accounting errors, tax fraud or evasion can receive up to 30 percent of the money recovered by the government based on the whistleblower’s information.
SEC whistleblowing is another area where special rules apply. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission program also compensates informants with up to 30 percent of the amount recovered, but the recovery ordered must exceed $1 million for the whistleblower to receive compensation. The informant must have provided the information voluntarily, and individuals are excluded from participation in the program if they were convicted of violating related U.S. laws. The purpose of the restrictions is to avoid awarding those who participate in fraud from later profiting from their actions.
The legal term for a person who reports fraud against the government is “relator.” The Federal False Claims Act shields relators from retaliation and provides a formula for compensating them. The provisions are as follows:
Protection for the whistleblower from discharge, demotion, suspension, threats or other harassment or discrimination against the whistleblower by the employer if the whistleblower still works for the employer under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)
Confidentiality for the whistleblower to file a fraud complaint under seal, which means that the defendant employers are not notified of a complaint until after the government investigates the claim under 31 U.S.C. §3730(b)(2)
Compensation for the whistleblower to share from 15 to 25 percent of the government’s successful recovery under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)
State false claim acts
Besides the obvious incentive to root out fraud in state governments, the federal government provides an additional monetary incentive for states to pass false claims acts similar to the federal statutes. Under section 1909 of the Social Security Act, states with qualifying similar laws receive a 10 percent increase in their share of amounts recovered from whistleblower lawsuits.
Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted false claims acts:
Contact Massachusetts false claims act lawyers today
Thornton Law Firm LLP is dedicated to providing personalized service to clients across the nation. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay legal fees. Call 1-888-491-9726 or contact us online to discuss suspected fraud against the government. Remember that the first person to file a whistleblower lawsuit is the person entitled to compensation if the government recovers money based on the information.
Thornton Law Firm has introduced a unique program to maximize subrogation recoveries for health insurance plans. Our clients, including major national insurers and union health plans, are using our proactive approach to recovery in complex claims involving drug and medical device litigation.
The traditional approach to subrogation identifies lawsuits brought by patients and asserts the interests of the insurer in the lawsuit. Thornton Law Firm’s approach identifies patients with potential legal rights and asserts the subrogation interest of the insurer whether or not the patient has brought a claim. Our model results in an exponential increase in the identification and recovery of valid claims.
Thornton Law Firm LLP has 40 years of experience litigating cases in the complex litigation arena. We have fought in courtrooms and legislatures for consumers’ rights, helped to shape public policy holding manufacturers responsible for their products, and secured compensation for the victims of defectively manufactured and tested products. Our firm has pioneered litigation against the pharmaceutical and medical device industry for injuries caused by defective medications and medical devices, the lead industry on behalf of damaged children, against the silicon chip industry whose unsafe use of solvents resulted in birth defects, and against the tobacco industry for the cost of treating sick smokers. We also continue to fight for those affected by asbestos and other toxic substances.
Thornton Law Firm Insurance Subrogation Lawyers
Trust our Massachusetts insurance subrogation attorneys to help
Contact the Boston law firm of Thornton Law Firm online or call 1-888-491-9726 for a free consultation with a recognized leader in insurance subrogation litigation. You have nothing to risk. We offer a fair and accurate assessment of your case.
SEC Whistleblowing Rules
What are the SEC’s whistleblowing rules?
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) implemented updated whistleblowing rules in 2011 under Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The purpose of the rules is primarily to reward people who act early for exposing SEC violations and who provide significant evidence resulting in a monetary award to the SEC. People who expose violations are known as relators or whistleblowers.
SEC whistleblowers are eligible to receive up to 30 percent of the sanction money awarded to the SEC. Under current rules for receiving an award, a whistleblower must have voluntarily provided the information, and the information must have led to SEC sanctions exceeding $1 million. Informants are excluded from compensation if they were convicted of violating related U.S. laws. The purpose of this restriction is to avoid rewarding those who participated in the fraudulent activity.
Call 1-888-491-9726 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with a knowledgeable whistleblower litigation attorney from Thornton Law Firm, LLP.
Why does the government pay SEC whistleblowers?
Realtors with knowledge of possible securities law violations are the government’s primary means of uncovering fraudulent activity. Individuals are often privy to information the SEC could not otherwise easily obtain, and can uncover fraud much earlier than would otherwise be possible.
The SEC is at its core a law enforcement agency. Traditional law enforcement is reactive, meaning investigations into alleged fraud often do not begin until the fraudulent activity is complete and a victim raises a red flag. By giving whistleblowers an incentive to come forward early, the SEC has a chance to identify fraudulent schemes and protect would-be victims.
Why do I need a lawyer to make a SEC whistleblowing claim?
Stepping forward to make a whistleblower claim is a big deal and is likely to result in some blowback from your employer or other persons responsible for the fraudulent activity. The federal False Claims Act protects relators from retaliatory actions from employers. An experienced SEC whistleblowers’ attorney can help enforce protections available under the law and minimize any negative aspects of being a whistleblower.
When you contact our SEC whistleblowing attorneys, we take the following actions to protect you and your claim:
Determining which whistleblower law is most advantageous for you
Preparing your claim properly and protecting your anonymity
Enforcing rules prohibiting retaliation against you for stepping forward
Contact SEC whistleblower lawyers for a free consultation
Thornton Law Firm LLP in Massachusetts provides steadfast legal representation to SEC whistleblower clients nationwide. We offer free consultations and excellent client service. We also provide legal services on a contingency-fee basis. You don’t pay if we don’t win your case. Call 1-888-491-9726 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation.
Whistleblowing rules encourage people to stop fraud
The term “whistleblower” refers to a person who brings fraudulent activity to the attention of those being defrauded or those with the authority to end the fraudulent activity and punish the wrongdoers. In the United States, whistleblowers laws exist to protect informants in many situations and often allow monetary rewards for information leading to the recovery of money by the government.
Deciding whether to shed light on fraudulent activity may seem like a no-brainer, but in real life, the decision may be complicated because people fear negative consequences. Having a trusted advocate on your side before you make the first step as a whistleblower can help alleviate your fear.
If you are aware of any fraudulent activity, do not waste another minute. Call 1-888-491-9726 or contact us online to speak with an attorney from Thornton Law Firm LLP. We can help you.
Situations where whistleblowing is needed
The variety of situations in which fraud can occur is virtually endless, and new scenarios are only limited by the imaginations of the wrongdoers. Most often, the fraudulent activity is a means to gain unearned profit or avoid liability. Below are examples of whistleblowers taking action to stop fraud:
An employee reported an employer for violating environmental regulations.
An accountant reported securities and accounting fraud to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A taxpayer reported a business’s tax evasion to the Internal Revenue Service.
A government employee reported suspected theft of property by a government vendor.
A government vendor reported fraudulent statements by a federal employee seeking payment.
A trucking company employee reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration an employer’s requirement that drivers exceed OSHA’s daily hours of service limits.
What federal laws protect me if I blow the whistle?
The following federal whistleblowing statutes have been enacted to protect fraud informants in a variety of circumstances:
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) – 29 U.S.C. § 623(d)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – 42 U.S.C. § 12203(a); 29 C.F.R. Part 1639
Civil Rights Act of 1964 – 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) (“Title VII”)
Clayton Act (antitrust) – 15 U.S.C. § 15(a)
Clean Air Act – 42 U.S.C. § 7622; 29 C.F.R. Part 24
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“Super Fund”) – 42 U.S.C. § 9610; 29 C.F.R. Part 24
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) – 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a), 1139
Energy Reorganization Act – 42 U.S.C. § 5851; 29 C.F.R. Part 24
Equal Pay Act – 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)
Fair Labor Standards Act (wage and hour, child labor, minimum wage, overtime) – 29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3); 29 C.F.R. Part 783
False Claims Act – 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – 29 U.S.C. § 2615
National Labor Relations Act – 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(4)
Occupational Safety and Health Act – 29 U.S.C. § 660(c); 29 C.F.R. Part 1977 (Part 11(c))
Safe Drinking Water Act – 42 U.S.C. § 300j-9
Sarbanes Oxley Act – 18 U.S.C. § 1514A
Solid Waste Disposal Act – 42 U.S.C. § 6971; 29 C.F.R. Part 24
Toxic Substances Control Act – 15 U.S.C. § 2622; 29 C.F.R. Part 24
Call the federal whistleblower attorneys at Thornton Law Firm LLP to arrange a free consultation
Located in Boston, Mass., our attorneys provide excellent legal representation and personalized attention to whistleblowers nationwide. Our legal services are provided on a contingency-fee basis, so if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay. Call 1-888-491-9726 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation. Thornton Law Firm LLP is here when you need us most.