Whistleblower Blog Archives - Page 2 of 36

Whistleblower Blog

OFF LABEL MARKETING: BIG PHARMA’S PRESCRIPTION FOR PROFITS

June 22, 2007
Michael Sullivan

The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act prohibits pharmaceutical companies from marketing or promoting a drug for uses that the FDA has not approved. This practice is known in the industry as “off label marketing”. Increasingly, pharmaceutical companies have purposely engaged in off label marketing in order to increase profits at the price of public safety. Practitioners in this area see this every day. Whether the public and even the medical profession is aware of the extent of this practice is unknown. Nonetheless, it appears that the False Claims Act remains one of the best tools available to address this deplorable practice.

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Retaliation Against Whistleblowers and Witnesses in Federal Proceedings

June 22, 2007
Michael Sullivan

While there are many specific retaliation provisions unique to claims filed under the False Claims Act, with the Equal Opportunity Commission and/or arising out of Sarbanes-Oxley provisions, all of which protect informant employees from being retaliated against by their employer, a little known fact is that there is a general statute (42 U.S.C. § 1985) which makes it unlawful for two or more persons to conspire to “deter” a witness from testifying in Federal Court. This statute also makes it unlawful to “retaliate” against a
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Tax Whistleblowers Encouraged to Come Forward

June 6, 2007
Michael Sullivan

Even though the Internal Revenue Service has had a Rewards Program for many years, until recently, there was very little encouragement for tax whistleblowers or informants to come forward concerning their knowledge of the under-reporting of taxes. While it is well known that income tax evasion costs taxpayers approximately $300 billion a year, the Internal Revenue Service in the past has failed to aggressively address this problem. While enforcement actions against criminals are designed to help deter tax fraud, the $300 billion annual figure is
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Accounting Firm Partners Indicted in Tax Fraud Case Over Tax Shelters Promoted by Ernst & Young

May 30, 2007
Michael Sullivan

IRS whistleblowers and whistleblower attorneys take note: accounting firms participating in selling tax shelters were jolted by today’s announcement of the indictment of four Ernst & Young partners for tax fraud conspiracy and other federal criminal charges relating to tax shelters.

The four accountants were alleged to have marketed tax shelter transactions based on fraudulent factual scenarios, through which wealthy taxpayers could eliminate or reduce the taxes paid to the IRS, according to the government’s announcement. All four persons charged had worked in E&Y’s group
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New Whistleblower Law on Medicaid Fraud Signed Today by Governor of Georgia

May 24, 2007
Michael Sullivan

I was excited to be invited to participate in today’s signing of the new Georgia “State False Medicaid Claims Act,” the newest state qui tam whistleblower law. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Edward Lindsey, asked this whistleblower lawyer blog author to join him and representatives of the Georgia Department of Community Health in the Governor’s Office for the signing ceremony.

Having worked with legislators on this bill, I was very happy to celebrate the law’s passage today:Participating in the signing ceremony with Governor Sonny
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Addendum: IRS Whistleblower Office Is Off to a Strong Start . . .

May 16, 2007
Michael Sullivan

I posted earlier today on this whistle blower lawyer blog about the comments of the Director of the new IRS Whistleblower Office, Stephen Whitlock, on how the IRS Whistleblower program is off to a good start, with credible claims and supporting evidence having been submitted by whistleblowers and their attorneys.

Since then, my partner commented that he believes one of our larger cases was referred to in the IRS Director’s comments about “knowledgeable insiders.” We also neglected to mention our IRS Whistleblower
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New IRS Whistleblower Director Says IRS Rewards Program Is Off to a Strong Start

May 16, 2007
Michael Sullivan

The head of the new IRS Whistleblower Office, Stephen Whitlock, reports that the new IRS Whistleblower Rewards Program is off to a strong start.

Today’s Wall Street Journal quotes Mr. Whitlock as saying that the claims submitted to the IRS Whistleblower Office to date appear to have credibility and have evidence to support them.

Since the new IRS Whistleblower program was authorized by Congress in December, our firm has been working with the IRS in pursuing whistleblower claims in the Midwest,
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Whistleblower Case Victory in D.C. Bid-Rigging Trial

May 15, 2007
Michael Sullivan

A qui tam whistleblower and his lawyer are very happy as a result of a $102 million jury verdict–to be shared by the whistleblower–in a False Claims Act trial that ended on May 14.

The defendants in this whistleblower case included Bill Harbert International Construction Inc.; Harbert Construction Services; Bilhar International Establishment; Harbert Corp.; and Harbert International. The case alleged bid-rigging on three U.S. government-funded construction contracts in Egypt in the 1980s and 1990s.

The jury found that defendants violated the False Claims Act and awarded $34 million in damages, which are “trebled” under the False Claims Act.

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“Lessons from Health Care Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid” to Begin on This Whistleblower Lawyer Blog

May 8, 2007
Michael Sullivan

Because health care fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs is such a huge problem, this week our whistleblower lawyer blog writers (former federal prosecutors who are now whistleblower attorneys) begin a series of posts on “Lessons from Health Care Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid.”

We will discuss how whistle blowers in the medical services profession have been important resources in revealing and stopping health care fraud in hospitals, nursing homes, physicians’ practices, and the pharmaceutical or drug industry. We also discuss how the
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Texas Upgrades Its Qui Tam Whistleblower Statute–and Considers An Even Better Whistleblower Law

May 7, 2007
Michael Sullivan

Just after Georgia, New York, and Oklahoma have passed new whistleblower laws similar to the federal False Claims Act to protect at least state Medicaid funds, Texas is poised to do even more.

We were pleased to see that, on May 4, Texas upgraded its already successful Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act. The changes were designed to allow Texas to receive a greater share of Medicaid fraud recoveries, as we have written about previously on this whistleblowerlawyerblog. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 creates
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Our Other Blog

How Much Can You Recover in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

February 16, 2026
Finch McCranie, LLP

Wrongful death lawsuit compensation in Georgia is based on the full value of the life of the person who passed away due to another party’s negligence.

When a family loses a loved one in a preventable accident, the emotional loss is overwhelming.

At the same time, financial pressures often intensify due to lost income, medical bills, and funeral expenses.

Georgia law allows certain family members to pursue compensation for death by negligence. The amount recovered depends on multiple legal, financial, and factual factors.

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Navigating Truck Accident Lawsuits: Product Liability & Medical Malpractice

April 24, 2024
Finch McCranie, LLP

In the realm of personal injury law, few incidents carry the potential for devastation, quite like truck accidents. These collisions often result in severe injuries, significant property damage, and, tragically, loss of life. When such accidents occur, victims and their families are thrust into a complex legal landscape where multiple factors may contribute to the incident’s cause and subsequent liability.

Understanding Truck Accident Lawsuits

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10 questions to ask before hiring a truck accident lawyer

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Register for 2024 “Whistleblower Law Symposium”–Live Event (Virtually) on March 13

March 11, 2024
Michael Sullivan

For many years, Michael Sullivan of our firm and his colleague Jim Breen have organized the “Whistleblower Law Symposium.” It has consistently received high marks from participants.

This year’s Symposium will be available either in-person or online on Wednesday, March 13, starting at 815 am EDT. It offers 7.5 CLE hours, including 1 Ethics hour and 4 Trial Practice hours. Cost is $279.

You can register (and see the full Agenda) here: atlantabar.org/…. Topics include:

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The Silent Battle: How to Win Your Medical Negligence Lawsuit

January 9, 2024
Finch McCranie, LLP

Medical negligence lawsuits can be daunting, but understanding the intricacies of the legal process is crucial for success.

In this guide, we’ll navigate the silent battle of medical negligence lawsuits, shedding light on critical aspects, strategies, and tips to help you emerge victorious.

Understanding Medical Negligence

Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional deviates from the standard of care, harming the patient.

It’s essential to recognize the signs and understand that not all medical complications result from negligence.

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Hiring the Right Advocate: A Guide to Medical Negligence Attorneys in Atlanta

December 3, 2023
Finch McCranie, LLP

Pursuing justice in medical negligence cases in Atlanta requires a skilled legal ally.

Finding the right attorney is crucial when you or a loved one has experienced harm due to medical malpractice.

A Medical Negligence Attorney in Atlanta can be the key to navigating the complex legal terrain and securing the compensation you deserve.

Understanding Medical Negligence

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Wall Street Journal Begins Examining IRS Violations Exposed by Mormon Whistleblower Regarding Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc.

June 30, 2023
Michael Sullivan

After reporting on the SEC’s investigation and findings of 20 years of “misstatements” by the LDS Church and Ensign Peak Advisors, Inc., the Wall Street Journal‘s Jonathan Weil again reports on facts revealed by our SEC and IRS whistleblower submissions on behalf of our client, David Nielsen. Mr. Nielsen exposed violations of law relating to a what he called a “clandestine hedge fund” affiliated with the Mormon Church, in his recent appearance on 60 Minutes.

Turning to IRS violations, this WSJ article addresses in part why, “[o]n its 2007 return, Ensign Peak put down ‘1,000,000’ for its total assets. The real number was about $38 billion, an Ensign Peak document shows.”

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On 60 Minutes, LDS Church admits “bailout” of for-profit business by Ensign Peak – which shows Ensign Peak cannot be tax-exempt.

May 16, 2023
Michael Sullivan

Regarding this past Sunday’s 60 Minutes interview of our client David Nielsen,

Mormon blows whistle on church’s alleged “clandestine hedge fund”

(https://www.cbsnews.com/60-minutes/ ):

Please see attached Statement,

which is also reprinted below.

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60 Minutes Interviews Our IRS & SEC Whistleblower Client David Nielsen: “Mormon Blows Whistle on Church’s Alleged ‘Clandestine Hedge Fund'”

May 16, 2023
Michael Sullivan

On Sunday, May 14, 60 Minutes featured an interview with our IRS and SEC whistleblower client David Nielsen.

My colleague Richard Rubin and I are proud to represent this principled whistleblower.

#cbs #60minutes #whistleblower #finchmccranie #secwhistleblower #irswhistleblower #ensignpeak

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Amid Bank Bailouts, SEC Whistleblower Improvements Urged by Senators Grassley & Warren

March 17, 2023
Michael Sullivan

In this week of new bank bailouts (following Silicon Valley Bank’s), a bipartisan group of five Senators has urged common sense improvements to the SEC Whistleblower laws. These Senators emphasize the “crucial role of whistleblowers” in protecting both investors and taxpayer funds.

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