By Steve Kardell | Published October 20, 2016 | Posted in Whistleblower Litigation | Tagged Tags: SEC chief leaves post | Comments Off on SEC Whistleblower Chief Leaves Post
SEC Whistleblower Chief Leaves Post
Sean X. McKessy officially left his post as chief of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of the Whistleblower in July. McKessy, who directed the office ever since it was established in 2011 after the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, oversaw more than $85 million awarded to 32 different whistleblowers during his tenure. Read More
Read MoreWhistleblower Protection Bill Blocked in the Senate
A federal whistleblower protection bill introduced to the U.S. Senate by Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has been blocked by Minority Leader Harry Reid. The Dr. Christopher Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2015 aims to provide greater protections to federal whistleblowers, including those working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is named after a psychologist Read More
Read MoreStrategies for an Effective Internal Investigation
If your business or organization is accused of wrongdoing, it’s important to have a sounds strategy in place to conduct a thorough internal investigation, responding quickly and effectively. However, these investigations take a lot of time, resources and planning — and so it’s often best to have a plan in place before any issues have Read More
Read MoreSEC 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 MoreCritics Call OSHA Whistleblower Initiative a ‘Shaming Program’
Business leaders across a wide range of industries are criticizing a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) program that “shames” employers who have allegedly violated their workers’ whistleblower rights. The Whistleblower-Severe Violator Enforcement Program (W-SVEP) would target businesses and organizations that egregiously impede on their employees’ ability to file whistleblower complaints, especially when it Read More
Read MoreTexas Agency Seeks Dismissal of Employee’s Claims
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) wants the state Supreme Court to disallow a former employee to bring a lawsuit against the agency for failing to accommodate his prostate cancer treatments. In a May ruling, the Texas First Court of Appeals denied psychologist David Donaldson’s claims that he was discriminated against due Read More
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