By Steve Kardell | Published October 10, 2016 | Posted in Whistleblower Litigation | Tagged Tags: $17M award, SEC whistleblower award |
SEC Pays Out Second-Highest Whistleblower Award Ever in June
In early June, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave out the second-highest whistleblower award since 2011, the year its whistleblower program was established after the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act. The award, for $17 million, went to an individual who significantly advanced an agency investigation, allowed the SEC to save time and resources Read More
Read MoreSEC to Use Whistleblower Tips in Merrill Lynch Lawsuit
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will take action against brokerage firm Merrill Lynch, claiming that an investment that declined by about 95 percent in value was marketed using techniques its financial advisors said were “borderline crooked.” The upcoming case centers on the risks of “structured notes,” which are securities that banks build out Read More
Read MorePlaintiff Uses LexShares to Raise Money for Whistleblower Lawsuit
An online application that assists with financing litigation has announced that the plaintiff in the case of US ex rel. Jennifer Perez v. Stericycle, Inc., et al. used its platform to raise funding during a whistleblower case — the result of which earned her a settlement of more than $28 million. Plaintiff Jennifer Perez used Read More
Read MoreHouse Passes Office of Special Counsel Reauthorization Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a law providing reauthorization of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) for the next five years, while also expanding the agency’s investigative powers. The bill clarifies the OSC’s ability to receive organizational information related to whistleblower claims and expands the agency’s annual reporting mandates to provide better information Read More
Read MoreWells Fargo Scandal Could Lead to Major Whistleblower Liability for Businesses
Americans have been shocked by news reports about false accounts at Wells Fargo Bank, which led to $185 million in fines and the firing of 5,300 employees. With such widespread misconduct, it is natural to ask whether workers attempted to report the illegal behavior to supervisors. Many former employees have come forward to declare that Read More
Read More3 Major Retailers Won’t Face False Claims Act Suit
Three of the world’s largest retailers have avoided a potential False Claim Act lawsuit, after claims surfaced that Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Kmart Corp. and Rite Aid Corp. had charged the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs for expired or almost-expired prescription medications. U.S. District Court for Massachusetts Judge Patti Saris dismissed nearly all of the qui Read More
Read MoreIs the SEC Relying Less on Businesses’ Self-Policing?
A notable increase in the number of whistleblower awards the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given out this year has led many legal analysts to conclude that the agency is no longer leaning on companies to self-report potential wrongdoing. In June alone, the agency granted more than $17 million to a single whistleblower, Read More
Read MoreMedical Device Maker Agrees to $8 Million Settlement in FCA Violation Case
Cardiovascular Services Inc., a Minneapolis-based manufacturer of a heart surgery device, will pay $8 million to settle a case in which it was accused of violating False Claim Act regulations. The company was accused of providing kickbacks — in the form of marketing support — to physicians who charged the government for their use of Read More
Read MoreTemporary Injunction Issued on Department of Labor ‘Persuader Rule’
A U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of Texas has placed a temporary hold on a key Department of Labor rule regarding employers’ ability to influence union matters. In late June, the judge handed down an 86-page order that granted a preliminary injunction against the DOL’s “persuader rule,” which business groups have aggressively Read More
Read MoreMerrill Lynch to Pay Large Fine, Admit to SEC Rules Violations
In late June, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. agreed to wrongdoing and a fine of $415 million to settle charges involving violations of Consumer Protection and Exchange Act rules. Rule violations at issue At issue in the case was Merrill Lynch’s alleged violation of Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3, Read More
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