Phoenix Whistleblower Claims Attorneys 

An employee cannot be fired or retaliated against for disclosing that he or she has information, or a reasonable belief, that the employer has violated, is violating, or will violate the law. Several federal and state statutes include provisions that protect employees for “blowing the whistle” on or reporting illegal actions.

At Martin & Bonnett PLLC, our Phoenix whistleblower attorneys aggressively represent employees who suffer retaliation for whistleblowing. We will stand up for your rights against employers and make sure you get the compensation or other remedy you deserve.

Federal Law

Under federal law, an employee may not be retaliated against for: participating in an investigation, proceeding or hearing, reporting or filing a charge of discrimination based on age, race, gender, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin; reporting violations of the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for unpaid wages or overtime; reporting securities violations; reporting occupational safety or health concerns; or reporting a fraud on or false claim submitted to the federal government.

Arizona Law

Under Arizona law, an employee may not be fired in retaliation for: refusing to commit an act that would violate state law; choosing not to join a labor organization; exercising workers’ compensation rights; exercising voting rights; exercising victim’s rights to be present at certain legal proceedings; exercising the right to be free from extortion of fees as a condition of employment; exercising the right to be free from coercion to purchase goods or supplies as a condition of employment; filing a charge or participating in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under civil rights laws for discrimination; participating in a proceeding concerning minimum wages paid to minors; or filing a complaint or participating in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under state occupational safety and health or pesticide control laws.

Federal False Claims Act

The False Claims Act permits an employee or “whistleblower,” who has knowledge of a current or past fraud on the federal government, to bring a claim on behalf of the government to recover the government and taxpayer’s lost funds. Individuals or companies that submit false claims for payment of government funds may be liable for three times the government’s damages plus tough civil penalties. To encourage citizens who have evidence of a fraud against the government to come forward, a whistleblower may be awarded between 15 and 30 percent of any funds that are recovered. False claims are prevalent in the medical industry, where providers seek payment from Medicare or Medicaid, or construction or manufacturing industries, where companies provide products or services under government contracts. Some common types of fraud against the government include:

• Billing for services not rendered or goods not provided (“Phantom Billing” or “Double Billing”)
• Billing for unnecessary or add-on services, for example billing to increase revenue rather than to reflect actual work that is necessary or performed
• Billing for unordered or unnecessary goods, equipment or supplies
• Failing to report over-payment for sale of a good or service
• False information, certifications, or credentials
• Misrepresenting services rendered or supplies provided, such as entering wrong billing codes for medical services or billing for premium equipment and providing inferior equipment

Contact an Arizona Employment Lawyer

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced whistleblower attorney, please call (602)240-6900 or toll free 1-800-952-4750. You can also contact us online.