In labor complaint cases you may require the best whistleblower attorneys in Los Angeles.
Facing an employer to report a company for legal violations takes a lot of courage. At the end of the day you may be risking income, reputation and career in exchange for getting justice. Don’t worry, we won’t let that happen and we are here to help you.
Table of Contents
What is a whistleblower?
A whistleblower is an employee who identifies and reports illegal activities by his employer in the workplace.
Who are these whistleblowers?
They can be employees of a public or private company. Here are some examples of where these employees can work:
- Government entities.
- Public corporations.
- Political subdivisions.
- Educational companies.
- Private businesses
Examples of irregularities that can be reported:
- Failure to comply with local or public policies and regulations.
- Violation of federal or state laws.
- Breach of safety and health regulations.
- Salary problems.
- Financial fraud with falsification of invoices, loans and others.
- Violations of obligations to shareholders or partners in the business.
- Racial discrimination, sexual harassment, deceptive or unfair business practices and other violations of labor law.
- Qui tam for fraud against the federal government or federal contractors.
Individuals can also be whistleblowers if they assist in investigations of corporate conduct or as witnesses in lawsuits related to the above causes.
If what you have experienced is harassment or discrimination of any kind at work, check out our section on discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles .
Protection for whistleblowers
Perhaps you are wondering if you are protected against possible retaliation in the event of a complaint.
Fortunately, every employee who reports illegal activity on the workplace is protected.
False Claims Act and other federal and state laws protect you. In California, section 1102.51 of the Labor Code offers protections to workers in this situation. This law makes the following actions by employers illegal:
- Inciting or enforcing any policy that discourages or prevents anyone from being a complainant.
- Retaliate against workers converted to whistleblowers or who were whistleblowers in the past.
- Retaliate against workers who refuse to participate in activities or jobs that violate state or federal laws.
Whistleblower protections under Labor Code 1102.5 have also been greatly expanded.
Informants who report or engage in unlawful conduct by an employer may have a basis for a civil action for wrongful termination, reduction of their position or salary, or any other illegal action by your company.
Check our section on wrongful termination lawyers for specific information on the first scenario.
Whistleblower laws in California and other states
“An employer, or any person acting on behalf of the employer, shall not make, adopt, or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy preventing an employee from disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person with authority over the employee, or to another employee who has authority to investigate, discover, or correct the violation or noncompliance, or from providing information to, or testifying before, any public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry, if the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of state or federal statute, or a violation of or noncompliance with a local, state, or federal rule or regulation, regardless of whether disclosing the information is part of the employee’s job duties. ”
California Labor Code
Under the laws of most states, whistleblowers are entitled to compensation for emotional distress and punitive damages.
The same applies for federal laws, for example, Sarbanes-Oxley Act says that anyone who interferes with an employee’s employment or livelihood by providing truthful information to legal authorities regarding any possible federal crime can pay a fine of up to $ 250,000 and be incarcerated for up to 10 years.
What if I was wrong about my employer?
If the employer did not violate the law, you, as an employee, still have the right to protection from retaliation for whistleblowers. Here is the logical assumption that you really believed that your employer had committed an illegal act.
If you, as a whistleblower, are subject to retaliation for filing a claim, do not hesitate to contact us. Our Los Angeles whistleblower attorneys will protect your rights under the labor code to facilitate actions on your behalf.
What our whistleblower attorneys will do for you
At Lluis Law our attorneys have represented many clients in whistleblower cases in Southern California and other states. We can help you by:
- First checking your options that your case has with:
- Federal and state laws: These prohibit retaliation against whistleblower employees who report violations of workplace safety laws, misuse of government funds, and other illegal activities.
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act: This protects employees of publicly listed companies and report a securities violation or corporate fraud.
- File a lawsuit on your behalf.
- Try to resolve your claim by negotiation or direct mediation whenever this is in your best interest.
- Qui Tam cases.
- Get your fair compensation.
- We do not only care about your current case but your future. We will negotiate all terms to protect your future employment.
At Lluis Law we are proud to represent clients who choose truth and justice against of violations of the law. As Los Angeles injury lawyers we work on really different practice areas from dog bites, spinal cord injuries or the one you are currently reading about among many others.
If you are being retaliated against for whistleblowing or are considering reporting an employer’s wrongdoing, call us. Our Los Angeles whistleblower attorneys will inform you of your legal options and rights in a free case evaluation.
