Halunen Law’s Clayton Halunen and Susan Coler share insights on “Winning Whistleblower Claims” at the 2022 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute

May 25th, 2022

Halunen Law False Claims Act/Whistleblower attorney Susan Coler chaired a panel of nationally known whistleblower attorneys who shared their insider perspectives on what it takes to win whistleblower cases. The panel included Minnesota employment lawyer Clayton Halunen, SEC whistleblower attorney Jordan Thomas (New York), and FCA trial lawyer Josh Russ (Dallas).

In a provocative conversation, the panel emphasized thorough vetting of potential plaintiffs on intake and dogged preparation at every step of the litigation as keys to success. They discussed statutes that provide monetary rewards to whistleblowers, as well as anti-retaliation statutes that provide recourse to employees and independent contractors who are mistreated because they are whistleblowers. Thomas and  Russ brought the added perspective of having worked for the SEC and the Department of Justice, respectively, before going into private practice. All three emphasized their passion for representing whistleblowers and their satisfaction in holding corporations accountable.

In a final segment about how responsible corporations treat whistleblowers, the strong message was to value whistleblowers, stop focusing on who blew the whistle, and address the concerns that are raised—because what whistleblowers want most is to stop the illegal conduct.

Besides having its attorneys as presenters, Halunen Law was pleased to be a sponsor of the Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, which drew more than 1,000 attendees in virtual and in-person sessions.