Susan Coler to Moderate National Panel Discussing Whistleblowers’ Critical Role During Covid-19

July 23rd, 2020

Halunen Law’s Susan Coler to Moderate Panel at Whistleblower Appreciation Day National Conference

Group of experts to discuss whistleblowers’ critical role during Covid-19 crisis

Partner and chair of Halunen Law’s False Claims Act/Whistleblower practice group, Susan Coler, will moderate a panel of legal, government, and healthcare leaders as part of the National Whistleblower Center’s annual conference commemorating National Whistleblower Appreciation Day on July 30. This year’s conference will be an interactive virtual conference and will address issues relating to Covid-10, the climate crisis and protection of whistleblowers.

Coler will moderate a panel, titled, “Covid-19 Crisis: The Contribution of Whistleblowers to Public Health and Economic Revitalization.” It will explore how whistleblowers are helping ensure transparency and accountability connected with the COVID-19 crisis and will offer actions that can be taken to give whistleblowers  the protections and support they need. Panelists are Jhonna Porter, Registered Nurse and Coronavirus Health Care Whistleblower, Michael Horowitz, Acting Chair, Pandemic Response Oversight Committee; Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, and Henry Kerner, Special Counsel, U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

“This is an unprecedented time in our nation’s history,” said Susan Coler. “The pace and scope of financial government transactions in response to the COVID-19 crisis has created ideal conditions for waste, fraud, and abuse. Whistleblowers are increasingly playing an important part in investigations that have been launched since the emergence of COVID-19. Their courageous actions will most certainly improve health care delivery, ensure that economic revitalization funds get into the right hands, and otherwise improve the lives of people struggling during this difficult time. It’s an  honor to be with this group of nationally-recognized industry experts and bring a much-needed spotlight to this vital issue.”

The National Whistleblower Center Whistleblower Appreciation Day  interactive virtual conference will feature a keynote address from Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is chair of the bipartisan Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, followed by several panel discussions and presentations. The day is dedicated to honoring the contributions that whistleblowers make to American democracy and the rule of law. It is an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of whistleblower protections. As the world continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and climate change, this year the conference will focus on the role of whistleblowers in addressing each of these crises.

The webinar conference will be held on July 30, from 12noon – 2:15 p.m. EDT.
Registration is required. RSVP at https://www.nationalwhistleblowerday.org/.

A partner and chair of Halunen Law’s False Claims Act/Whistleblower practice group, Susan Coler represents whistleblowers across the United States in many different industries who challenge illegal corporate conduct, including fraud against the government. Susan represented a relator in an FCA claim against Abbott Laboratories that resulted in a civil settlement of $800 million (total settlement of $1.5 billion). This was the fifth largest civil healthcare recovery ever achieved under the FCA. Learn more.