Category: BLOG
State and Federal Authorities Denounce Racism Amid Increasing Attacks Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, racist and xenophobic attacks against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have been on the rise. A study analyzing police department statistics across 16 major U.S. cities found anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 150% in 2020, while overall hate crimes fell by 7%. Only weeks ago, …
Can the False Claims Act Protect Former Employees?
A recent decision out the 6th Circuit reinforces that former employees are protected from retaliation under the False Claims Act – even when the retaliatory conduct happens after they are fired or leave the company. In the lawsuit, an employee alleged he was “marginalized” for insisting on compliance with the law during his employment and …
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Legislation to Prohibit Arbitration Clauses from Denying Employees Their Day in Court
Forced arbitration is a powerful tool used by employers to limit employees from suing them in court. Under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), employers have wide latitude to force employees into mandatory arbitration. Arbitration is a binding process that is conducted by a private judge (arbitrator), instead of a public trial. Arbitration can have many …
False Claims Act Focus for 2021
Knowing the kinds of fraud the federal government is focused on fighting is an important warning to health care providers, contractors, grantees, and others doing business with the government. But this information is also a source of encouragement for those who blow the whistle when such business dealings turn into fraud. Acting Assistant Attorney General …
The Equality Act – LGBTQ Discrimation Laws
Does federal law protect LGBT individuals? In a groundbreaking decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of three employee plaintiffs—two gay men and one transgender woman—in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia (which was consolidated with Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda and G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC). ‘The Court held that …
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Civil Lawsuits: Providing a path to create social change
With the Covid-19 pandemic, violent hate groups, policing misconduct, national crises, and societal challenges at the forefront, people may be quick to say, “There should be a law (or regulation) against that.” In many instances, there are laws in place. The question is, How they are enforced? Regulatory bodies such as legislatures or government agencies …
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New Treasury Secretary applauds role of IRS whistleblowers
Newly confirmed Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen told the Senate Finance Committee that she was committed to respecting and protecting whistleblowers as “an important asset to the integrity of the agency and tax system more generally.” Read her written response to a question about the role of whistleblowers and a recent downturn in IRS whistleblower …
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Stats Show Whistleblowers Are Key Partners in the Fight Against the Many Faces of Fraud
The Department of Justice’s 2020 data is here, and it paints another compelling picture of the value brought by whistleblowers who file cases under the False Claims Act (FCA). In 2020, claims filed by whistleblowers were responsible for about 75% of new cases filed and about 75% of government fraud proceeds. And rewards made to …
How Can I Protect Myself as a Pregnant Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women face new challenges—changes to in-person doctor visits, baby shower cancellations due to social-distancing, and rigid guidelines for keeping themselves and their newborns safe after birth. These changes have brought anxiety, disappointment, and sadness for many new mothers. Moreover, the crisis may add an additional layer of …
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What Are My Rights as a Parent During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many working parents have been placed between a rock and a hard place. With many day cares and schools closed to in-person learning, parents who work are scrambling to find ways to make sure their children are learning and being cared for at home, while still doing their job. Unfortunately, …
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