Whistleblower Lawyer Blog Update: New State False Claims Acts Reward Employees and Other Persons Who Report Fraud
A wave of new “whistleblower” laws continues, inspired by the successes of the federal False Claims Act. These new laws include (1) state versions of the federal False Claims Act, and (2) the new IRS Whistleblower Rewards Program. At the same time, in 2008 Congress is considering legislation to strengthen the False Claims Act. This […]
IRS Whistleblower Program: Updated Summary for Lawyers with Potential Tax Whistleblower Claims
(Updated) For a national conference of employment lawyers, I was asked to participate in a panel discussion of “Strategic Thinking in Whistleblower Cases” and to explain the new IRS Whistleblower Program. Because our whistleblower lawyer blog (https://www.whistleblowerlawyerblog.com/irs_rewards_program_tax/) has followed closely the development of the new IRS Whistleblower Program since Congress authorized it in December 2006, […]
Bogus Tax Shelters, Tax Fraud, and Tax Evasion Are Targeted by IRS and Justice Department
Bogus tax shelters and other tax fraud and evasion are among the common reports by tax whistleblowers to whistleblower attorneys. Today, the government launched a new, coordinated federal effort by the IRS, the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorneys to stop fraudulent tax claims, frivolous tax returns, and bogus tax schemes. Quoting former Supreme […]
Major Whistleblower Law Development: False Claims Act Correction Act Is Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee
Today saw a major development that could affect every whistleblower, whistleblower attorney, and whistleblower case involving the False Claims Act, the nation’s primary whistleblower law. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today approved new legislation to restore the False Claims Act to its originally intended strength, by eliminating a series of “loopholes” that dishonest government contractors […]
IRS Tax Whistleblower Program Update: IRS Authorizes Contingent Fee Arrangements for Retaining Lawyers in Tax Whistleblower Cases
The new IRS Whistleblower Program authorized by Congress in December 2006 continued its progress this week, with the IRS’s announcement yesterday approving the use of contingent fee arrangements in retaining tax whistleblower attorneys. Our whistleblower lawyer blog has followed the development of the new IRS Whistleblower Program since its infancy. The new tax whistleblower provisions […]
IRS Whistleblower Program for Tax Whistleblowers: IRS Announces Sharing of Information with Whistleblowers and Their Attorneys Under Written Contracts
The IRS this week announced another interesting development in its new IRS Whistleblower Program, which this whistleblower lawyer blog has followed closely. This announcement addressed new regulations permitting the IRS to share tax return information with whistleblowers and their lawyers under written contracts with the IRS, and also to advise those whistleblowers and their attorneys […]
Whistleblower False Claims Act Cases Lead New Jersey Health Care Consultant to Settle Allegations of Medicare Fraud
The Justice Department has announced that Besler & Company, Inc., a New Jersey health care consulting firm, and its principal Philip Besler, have agreed to settle allegations of fraud against the federal Medicare program, which were initiated by two qui tam whistleblower cases. The settlement is for $2.875 million, plus interest, paid to the federal […]
IRS Tax Whistleblower Progress Continues with IRS Chief Counsel’s Advice on Informant Contacts
The new IRS Whistleblower Rewards Program continues to take shape, as the IRS’s Chief Counsel has advised IRS employees on the contacts they may have with certain whistleblowers or “informants.” The new IRS Whistleblower Program for tax whistleblowers is an exciting development. It has brought together a team of extremely qualified professionals at the IRS, […]
“False Claims Act Correction Act” to Restore Qui Tam Whistleblower Law to Its Original Intent Goes Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a much-needed bill that will restore to its intended effectiveness the government’s primary law for combating fraud. Our whistleblower lawyer blog has written previously about the “False Claims Act Correction Act.” The Act is one of the most significant developments in whistleblower law since the […]
State False Claims Act Is Considered in Louisiana
The trend of new state False Claims Acts with qui tam whistleblower provisions continues, as Louisiana considers whether to adopt its own version of the federal False Claims Act. The growing number of state False Claims Acts has been a frequent topic of this whistleblower lawyer blog. In 2007, New York, Georgia, and Oklahoma joined […]