Righting wrongs can mean tricky business…
Whistleblowers, or employees who report legal violations by their employers, are protected by laws on both the federal and state levels to keep them from retaliation or harassment. These laws can also protect workers from unfair terminations or being pressured to resign through unlawful tactics, known as constructive discharge.
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State and Federal Protection
The Florida Whistleblower Act protects employees from retaliation who report a wide variety of violations by their employers, including improper use of authority, gross neglect, and abuse of duty or gross waste of funds.
Employees who report violations of laws, rules, and regulations that are dangerous to the health, safety, and welfare of the public can also find protection under this law. Individuals are protected from being terminated after taking protected action.
Congress also has passed federal laws to protect whistleblowers, including the Clean Air Act, the Affordable Care Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OSHA”). OSHA specifically handles complaints under 17 different federal laws.
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These laws include provisions for workplace health and safety, federal rail safety, pipeline safety and consumer product safety. The Supreme Court has also upheld that federal protection may not supersede state statutes and consumer law protections.
Whistleblower Retaliation Claims
A whistleblower claim may result in retaliatory action taken by your employer regardless of federal or state law. However, retaliatory measures creating a hostile work environment or wrongfully terminating your employment exposes the employer to further legal liability.
Lawsuit Representation, Investigation & Process
People who come forward to expose fraud may be eligible to collect a reward under the qui tam provision of the false claims act. These cases involve fraud or wrongdoing perpetrated on government programs such as medicaid or medicare by the company you work for. The potential money, and amount of rewards a whistleblower may be entitled in such a whistleblower lawsuit can be huge.
The collection of evidence, documentation, and records of fraud in these cases is part of what your whistleblower law firm will help with. Additionally, confidentiality in a whistleblower case can be protected during the investigation phase.
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Legal Requirements
Florida’s Whistleblower Act protects employees from objecting to or refusing to participate in illegal activity, giving written notice to employers of intent to disclose illegal activity and also cooperating with authorities investigating illegal activity.
The law includes many exceptions, and our whistleblower attorneys can explain how these issues affect the individual situation.
The effects can be long term. Employees who report employer wrongdoings could also risk damage to their own reputations and impact possible future employment.
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Ready to help with your whistleblower case…
Richard Celler was the founding member and managing partner of one of the largest employee and plaintiff side employment law divisions in the country.
Celler Legal is focused a litigation firm focused on the needs and attention of its clients, with years of experience representing the rights and fighting on behalf of whistleblowers in Florida. Our legal services are provided on a contingency fee basis requiring no payment of any charges until the successful conclusion.
Our whistleblower lawyers have a history of expertise and success seeking justice and compensation for our clients. Whistleblower retaliation exposes the companies in violation to legal action – and we aren’t afraid to go to trial if necessary..
If considering blowing the whistle and seeking representation, the Florida whistleblower lawyers at Celler Legal can help ensure you are protected every step of the way.
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY RICHARD CELLER