Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Discuss Pharmaceutical Fraud: Part II

Pharmaceutical fraud is a growing problem and the number of whistleblower cases brought due to the fraudulent actions of pharmaceutical companies is on the rise. In Part I of this two part series we discussed two common types of pharmaceutical fraud:  off-label marketing of drugs and illegal kickbacks.  These two types of fraud can engender the lives of patients by encouraging the use of drugs unapproved for particular conditions simply due to illegal incentives on the part of the pharmaceutical company.

At Barrett Law, PLLC, we believe that pharmaceutical companies must be made to comply with federal law. Federal laws regarding prescription drugs and their use are essential for the safety of consumers.  If you believe you have uncovered an act of fraud or have already initiated a whistleblower action, contact our experienced attorneys as soon as possible.

The following is a look at some additional pharmaceutical fraud actions:

Whistleblowers and FDA Regulations Regarding Quality and Control Procedures

The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) makes the sale of any adulterated drug illegal. All drugs must comply with the methods and quality control procedures used in the creation, processing, packing, and holding of drugs.  Drugs that do not comply are considered adulterated and therefore not able to be sold.  These regulations are necessary to ensure drugs are safe for their intended use and each drug on the market has the quality and purity characteristics that the drug is supposed to contain.

Federal regulations require drug companies have an adequately trained staff, proper equipment, and follow stringent manufacturing processes. Failure to comply with federal pharmaceutical standards is considered fraud.  Whistleblowers who bring this fraud to light can uncover substantial sums.

Clinical Trial Fraud

Clinical trial fraud happens when a pharmaceutical company submits false data to the FDA in order to receive approval for a new drug. If the pharmaceutical company misrepresents the outcome of trials in order to boost the supposed effectiveness of a new drug, it is committing an illegal act and it can be held accountable through a whistleblower lawsuit.  Anyone who uncovers that a pharmaceutical company is falsifying clinical trial data should consult with an attorney as soon as possible.

Another cause of action exists when drug companies misrepresent medical devices. Medical devices will not need FDA approval if they are the substantial equivalent of a product already on the market.  Misrepresenting a medical device so as to avoid the FDA approval process can result in liability on the part of the pharmaceutical company.

If you have uncovered any form of pharmaceutical fraud, consult with a licensed whistleblower attorney who can assist you in bringing a whistleblower action. With the assistance of an experienced attorney, you may be eligible to receive considerable compensation.

Barrett Law, PLLC: Experienced and Dedicated Whistleblower Attorneys 

Whistleblowers are necessary to hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable and keep them in compliance with the law. Whistleblowers put their lives and careers on the line to uncover fraud, but they may be eligible to receive considerable sums for bringing fraud to light through qui tam lawsuits.  If you are preparing to blow the whistle or have experienced retaliation due to a whistleblowing complaint, contact the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC.  Our outstanding Mississippi law firm will provide the experienced representation you need to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.  We have assisted whistleblowers for over 75 years and will provide you with representation of unmatched excellence.  Your whistleblower action is time sensitive so contact our office as soon as possible.  Call Barrett Law, PLLC today at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free initial consultation.

/by

Federal Government Joins in Whistleblower Suit Against Mississippi Hospital

Recently, the federal government formerly joined in a whistleblower lawsuit filed against the owners of one Mississippi hospital. The lawsuit alleges that hospital owners unjustly billed over $12 million from Medicare.  The lawsuit was filed by a former administrator at Stone County Hospital in 2007.  The unsealed complaint alleges that the owners of the hospital paid themselves large salaries that were partially reimbursed by Medicare, the federal health care program for the elderly.  Whistleblower James Aldridge stated in the complaint that he rarely witnessed the owners performing management duties, despite the fact that the salaries were included in the cost of running the hospital.

The whistleblower attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC will follow closely as this lawsuit unfolds. We have assisted whistleblowers in a number of cases against hospitals for wrongful billing and other fraudulent activities.  We fight for our whistleblower clients to receive that portion of funds recovered that they deserve.  The following is a look at fraudulent healthcare billing and what whistleblowers can do if they uncover this practice.

Healthcare Billing Fraud

Healthcare fraud caused by fraudulent billing is a tremendous problem for government healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. For years, Medicare, Medicaid, and like programs have paid untold sums to deceitful healthcare providers.  Unscrupulous healthcare providers have created ways to fraudulently bill healthcare programs for their own gain, while defrauding the government at the same time.

Preventing and uncovering healthcare fraud is a central focus of the federal government due to the large impact of healthcare fraud on our overall economy. Whistleblowers are one of the primary avenues by which we combat healthcare fraud.  Today, qui tam lawsuits are the number one means of routing out billing fraud.

There are several different ways that fraudulent billing can occur. Some common schemes include:

  • Duplicate billing
  • Billing for services not provided and goods never delivered
  • Split billing or billing for procedures performed in one day over several days
  • Upcoding services actually rendered
  • Submitting false information or certifications, such as billing for falsified lab reports or certifying contacts as fulfilled when they are not
  • Submitting bills to Medicare that should have been paid by other insurers
  • Billing for unlicensed or unapproved drugs
  • Billing for brand names drugs while instead providing generic drugs
  • Billing for top notch equipment, but using inferior equipment
  • Inflating billing by using diagnosis codes that suggest more expensive illnesses or treatment
  • Billing at doctor’s rates for work performed by an intern or nurse

Whistleblower lawsuits have assisted the federal government in reclaiming billions of dollars from fraudulent healthcare providers. Whistleblowers perform a vital function for the federal government and our entire country.  If you have uncovered fraudulent billing occurring in your workplace or a workplace you have contact with, contact a qui tam attorney as soon as possible for assistance with your whistleblower action.

Barrett Law, PLLC: Assisting Brave Whistleblowers Across Mississippi

We need whistleblowers to uncover fraud and wrongdoing occurring in the workplace, but whistleblowers face many challenges in bringing to light the illegal conduct they have discovered. If you are preparing to blow the whistle or have experienced retaliation due to a whistleblowing complaint, contact the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC.  Our outstanding Mississippi law firm will provide the experienced representation you need to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.  Your whistleblower action is time sensitive so contact our office as soon as possible.  Call Barrett Law, PLLC today at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Report: New Evidence Shows VA is Not Listening to or Protecting Whistleblowers

A letter sent by the United States Office of Special Counsel to the White House and Congress (the “OSC”) details some alarming findings concerning the Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”).  The letter states that the VA is not listening to whistleblowers nor is it protecting them, and it has also failed to punish employees who tried to stop whistleblowers.  These new findings substantiate allegations made by several whistleblowers in 2014 and numerous stories that have emerged concerning delays in the care of veterans that led to preventable deaths.  They further support the claims of several whistleblowers who experienced retaliation, or whose concerns were completely ignored.

Dr. Katherine Mitchell Raised Alarms, but the VA Failed to Act

One of the most prominent whistleblowers who attempted to raise concerns about the VA system was Dr. Katherine Mitchell.  Dr Mitchell spoke out about dangerous delays in veteran’s care and a lack of training among triage nurses.  VA officials failed to act for over five years and nothing was done to punish the misconduct Mitchell witnessed.  The OSC that this failure to act undermines progress and discourages whistleblowers from coming forward.  Dr. Mitchell has settled her whistleblower claim against the VA, but continues to speak out about alarming situations that she feels still exist in the VA system.

VA Whistleblowers Experience Retaliation

Federal law prohibits employers from retaliating against whistleblowers for raising their valid concerns; however, this does not always stop employers from taking negative action against whistleblower employees.  The OSC uncovered several instances in which the VA attempted to fire or suspend whistleblowers for minor indiscretions or even for activities directly related to their whistleblowing.  The OSC is working with the VA to rescind this disciplinary action.

Whistleblower Litigation and Retaliation

If you witness illegal or fraudulent activity occurring within your workplace, you should take action.  Reporting your concerns carries with it the danger of facing retaliatory action.  However, state and federal laws exist to protect you from illegal retaliation.  Employers are prohibited from threatening, discharging, discriminating, or otherwise retaliating against employees who report instances of wrongdoing by state agencies or contractors.

Employees who experience retaliation can initiate a hearing by filing a claim.  If successful, the retaliatory action will be reversed and you may be eligible for damages.  Further, employees may also file a claim for a reward.  These actions will allow the whistleblower to receive potentially substantial compensation, including a percentage of all monies recovered.

A Qui Tam lawsuit is a type of civil lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act.  This law rewards whistleblowers if their suit recovers funds for the government.  The act additionally provides job protection.  If you are an employee who believes you have experienced retaliation due to your whistleblower activities or if you need assistance bringing a whistleblower claim, contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Assisting Brave Whistleblowers Across Mississippi

Whistleblowers serve an important function in society, but are not always treated with the respect that their brave actions deserve.  If you have experienced retaliatory actions as a result of your whistleblowing activity or need assistance with a qui tam action, contact the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC.  Our prominent Mississippi law firm has assisted brave whistleblowers for over 75 years.  Whistleblower cases are complex and will require the help of experienced counsel in order to successfully bring your action.  At Barrett Law PLLC, we will provide you with the information you need to walk through the whistleblower claim process and the legal assistance you will need as the case moves forward.  Call us today at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Offer Advice for Potential Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers today benefit from increased federal and state protections as well as an overall improved mindset concerning whistleblowing.  While some uninformed individuals still see whistleblowers as opportunistic, more often society recognizes the importance of whistleblowers and encourages them to come forward.  As whistleblowing has become more revered, the reward offered to whistleblowers has increased.  The False Claims Act awards whistleblowers with up to 30 percent of all proceeds recovered for the government, which can equate to tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even multiple millions for the whistleblower. Despite these strong legal incentives and protections, it is important that whistleblowers have a realistic understanding of the path their case may take.  The following is a list of some advice for would be whistleblowers:

  1. You are not guaranteed a large payday: While some whistleblower cases have resulted in seven or even eight figure recoveries, these cases are the exception and not the rule.  The federal government does not intervene in every whistleblower case and there is no guarantee that you will receive a large recovery.  Your whistleblower attorney can assess the strength of your potential action to provide you with a better prediction as to your odds of success.
  2. Your career could be affected:  Being a whistleblower is not easy.  While whistleblower laws have come a long way and offer extensive protection against retaliation, employees who blow the whistle still often experience retaliatory action in the form of estrangement or even blacklisting. Ask yourself whether you have the strength to put your career on the line to bring to light information you feel is important.
  3. Be in it for the long haul:  The whistleblower process can take a long time, in many cases, several years or longer.  Throughout this ordeal, the government may leave you in the dark as to where it is in investigations and acceptance of the matter.  If your case makes it to court, the process will continue to move slowly given the procedural requirements of any complex litigation.  Be prepared for your whistleblower case to go on for quite some time and occupy a major part of your life.
  4. You will need a lawyer:  You will without a doubt need a lawyer.  Whistleblower laws are complex and wrought with confusing requirements and restrictions.  If you do not submit all of the required information or submit it incorrectly, you could be disqualified from acting as a whistleblower entirely.  Consult with a whistleblower attorney early on to start the process off the right way.  Your attorney will represent your interests throughout the entire process

None of these points are intended to discourage a would-be whistleblower.  Rather, you should enter the whistleblower process with a realistic idea in mind of what will occur and how you can best protect yourself and your interests.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Experienced Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys

We need brave individuals to step forward as whistleblowers and report misconduct or fraud on the part of employers. If you have experienced retaliatory actions as a result of your whistleblowing activity or need assistance with a qui tam action, contact the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC.  Our prominent Mississippi law firm has assisted brave whistleblowers for over 75 years.  Whistleblower cases are complex and will require the help of experienced counsel in order to successfully bring your action.  At Barrett Law PLLC, we will provide you with the information you need to walk through the whistleblower claim process and the legal assistance you will need as the case moves forward.  Call us today at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Discuss Whistleblower Protections

Whistleblowers put their careers and at times, even lives on the line to disclose illegal activities they witness in the workplace.  In order to protect whistleblowers for their brave actions, numerous federal and state statutes exist, along with strong case law.  These laws aim to ensure whistleblowers will not be punished for their actions and will be rewarded.  Some important protections include:

Whistleblower Retaliation Protection

Numerous federal and state whistleblower laws include whistleblower retaliation provisions.  These provisions offer broad relief to employees who are harassed, suspended, terminated, or otherwise discriminated against by their employer for engaging in protecting whistleblowing activity.

Whistleblowers who believe they have experienced retaliation can bring a retaliation claim against the employer.  To have a valid claim, the employer must have taken some negative action against the employee in response to their whistleblowing.

Good Faith Exceptions

If you report conduct that you believe to be illegal, but it turns out to be lawful, you will generally still be protected from retaliation.  Case law has developed a good faith exception that extends protection to whistleblowers so long as they made the complaint in good faith.

Ongoing Protection Against Retaliation

Your protection against retaliation extends beyond the length of your employment.  If you file a whistleblower complaint then later resign from your job, only to be given a negative reference later on due to your whistleblowing activity, your employer could still be in violation of the law.  This can form the basis for a retaliation claim.

Courts will look to the time between the whistleblowing activity and the alleged retaliatory action as one part of its assessment of a retaliation claim.  While timing can be of the essence, with much retaliatory action occurring soon after the whistleblowing, some employers will bide their time before acting.  This does not mean your retaliation claim will fail.  You will need to present sufficient evidence to point to the relatedness of the two events.

Anonymity

Some whistleblower programs, like the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, allow you to remain anonymous, even to the government.  Your identity will only be disclosed once you have qualified for a reward.  For some whistleblowers, this provides the security they need that their careers and lives will not be negatively affected by acting.  Other whistleblower programs will need your identity from the start to investigate the claim fully.

Whistleblower Rewards

Several state and federal laws exist to award whistleblowers for their claims.  Whistleblowers will often receive a percentage of the funds recovered due to the whistleblower’s assistance.  This can amount to large sums of money.  However, not every whistleblower will get a huge reward.  The monetary success of your whistleblower claim will depend largely on the type of fraud uncovered and the financial implications of such fraud, as well as the strength of your claim.  If you are considering filing a whistleblower action, consult with an experienced attorney who will analyze your claim and assist you in obtaining the best possible outcome.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Zealous Representation for Mississippi Whistleblowers  

If you are considering bringing a whistleblower claim or have experienced retaliation due to revealing fraud within your workplace, contact the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC.  Our prominent Mississippi law firm has assisted brave whistleblowers for over 75 years.  Whistleblower cases are complex and will require the help of experienced counsel in order to successfully bring your action.  At Barrett Law PLLC, we will provide you with the information you need to walk through the whistleblower claim process and the legal assistance you will need as the case moves forward.  Call us today at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Discuss Other School Whistleblower Cases

Whistleblower lawsuits come in all varieties, and from all levels of employment within the organizations that they are brought against. The collection of cases below illustrates a few of the ways that whistleblower claims can arise within a public school system setting.

The Albuquerque Public Schools Chief Financial Officer (CFO) was suspended from his duties and as such, has filed a whistleblower protection lawsuit alleging retaliation. The now former CFO reported a former Deputy Superintendent to superiors, alleging that the Deputy Superintendent was mishandling a potential contract related to school district computer systems. He also alleges that he had been passed over for a deputy superintendent position that had been offered to him in the past because of his political views. The Albuquerque Public Schools asserts that the former CFO’s claims are without merit.

The largest food vendor in the Washington, D.C. public school system has settled a lawsuit that alleged that the company overcharged the city for its services and mismanaged the school meals programs. The settlement agreement is the result of a whistleblower lawsuit that was brought by a former director of food services for Washington, D.C. Public Schools against Chartwells and Thompson Hospitality.

In Grand Rapids, a former special education contractor at a charter school who reported special education program and hiring violations was terminated after she reported the violations. She has reached a settlement in the federal lawsuit that she brought against the school which alleged retaliation. In another whistleblower lawsuit related to special education, a former occupational therapist at Portland Oregon Public Schools has filed a whistleblower lawsuit. The woman has alleged that the school district was acting in retaliation when it essentially forced her to resign after she called attention to disturbing work practices involving students with disabilities. For example, she claimed that she had so many responsibilities associated with her job that she could not provide the amount of attention to her disabled students that she was required by law to provide. She was also denied workplace accommodations that would assist her with her own disability, a herniated disk.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Supporting Mississippi Whistleblowers

If you have lost your job as the result of retaliatory actions that were taken against you by your employer after you notified them of wrongdoing that was occurring in your workplace, you may feel devastated and betrayed. Some organizations wish to ignore inappropriate conduct, but it is patently unfair for these organizations to expect that their employees will just sit back and ignore things that they see that are not right. If you believe that you have a whistleblower claim that is based on retaliatory action or wrongful termination, the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC may be able to help you.  Our attorneys can give you the information that you need to understand the whistleblower claims process and the legal support that you will require as your whistleblower case moves forward. To learn more about how we can help you, please call our office today at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free, initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney Talks about Whistleblower Cases in Public Schools

Whistleblower lawsuits can arise in any type of organization, including workplaces that many people participate in because they want to serve their communities or a specific group of people within their communities, such as youth.  Individuals who work at schools, churches, and other organizations that are integral to our communities may encounter inappropriate conduct during the course of their employment or even during the course of volunteer work. A former middle school football coach in Tennessee is suing the team’s head coach and the county school board for defamation and wrongful termination. The same former coach plans to file a federal lawsuit on behalf of several football players and their families, alleging that racism and sexual harassment are occurring within the school’s football program.

The former coach claims that someone related to the head coach of the football team had been bullying some of the players with inappropriate language and behavior. Some of the behavior and remarks were sexual in nature, and other behavior and marks were allegedly racist. The head coach had assigned coaches to be present in the locker rooms, but the former coach was assigned security detail in the parking lot and told that the coaches were needed in the locker rooms because of alleged thefts that had been occurring. The now former coach had informed the head coach about reports of racist language that allegedly involved the head coach’s relative, as well as reports that he had been hearing regarding sexual behavior and threats involving that same relative. The now former coach and the head coach met with school officials, and sometime after those meetings occurred, the now former coach was fired via text message.

The lawsuit that is currently being brought by the now former coach also alleges that in addition to not addressing the inappropriate behaviors that were going on, the head coach misinformed the team about the reason why the now former coach is not coaching any more, stating that the misinformation amounts to defamation. He states that he now experiences significant anxiety because of all that has happened, as well as mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and irreparable injury to his personal and professional reputation.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Supporting Mississippi Whistleblowers One Case at a Time

Whistleblower lawsuits are very intense and emotionally taxing experiences. That said, they are absolutely essential to exposing conduct that violates the rules and, in some cases, even violates people’s rights. The Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC may be able to help you if you believe that you have a whistleblower claim.  Our attorneys have gained invaluable experience by helping our clients through their whistleblower lawsuits, and they know how to provide the comprehensive support that you need.  To learn more about how we can help you to pursue a whistleblower lawsuit, please call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free, initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Discuss Whistleblower Lawsuits in the Financial Sector

If you think about some of the stories that make the news regarding inappropriate work practices, you likely are aware that a fair amount of whistleblower lawsuits are filed by people who are currently or were formerly employed by companies that operate in the financial sector.  In one such whistleblower lawsuit, two former brokers brought suit against Morgan Stanley alleging that they were fired in retaliation for complaining about improper practices and violations of securities law that they witnessed during the course of their employment at the company’s warehouse. The company denies the allegations that have been brought against it by the two brokers, claiming that they are entirely without merit.

The two former brokers claim that they saw both trainees and interns entering into trades on behalf of their advisers by using the brokers’ access codes. That conduct is a violation of firm policy. They also assert that they witnessed an advisor trying to get an insurance commission in an inappropriate manner. One of the former brokers even says that she was harassed by her branch manager and another adviser. These are just a few of the things that the two former brokers claim to have experienced during the course of their employment at Morgan Stanley.

One of the brokers involved in the lawsuit says that she approached her branch manager to discuss the securities violations that she had witnessed. She says that in response to hearing what she had to say about the improper conduct, the manager told her to leave his office. He later asked her for a list of her clients. A month after all of that happened, the same manager informed the broker that the firm was unwilling to pursue a two hundred million commodities deal on behalf of one of her clients. Confrontations between each of the two brokers and other individuals at the firm continued to occur, and in 2011, the brokers filed a whistleblower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both of the brokers involved in this lawsuit were eventually fired, allegedly for poor performance. Notwithstanding, they claim that they were terminated in retaliation for filing a whistleblower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Representing the Interests of Mississippi Whistleblowers

The life of a whistleblower is not easy, and whistleblowers need legal support that they can count on. The Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC will work hard to help you with your whistleblower claim. Our attorneys understand that you may have many questions and concerns as your whistleblower case moves along. When concerns or questions arise, we can help you find the answers that you need. To learn more about how we can help you with your Mississippi whistleblower lawsuit, please call the seasoned Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free, initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Discuss DuPont Whistleblower Cases

Sometimes, a whistleblower lawsuit, or any lawsuit for that matter, does not truly end when the jury issues its verdict. For example, the verdict in a federal whistleblower lawsuit decided by a jury in favor of corporate giant DuPont has been set aside after evidence recently surfaced indicating that the company had committed misconduct by withholding critical information during their trial.  The information came to the attention of attorneys and the court when it was released during a separate lawsuit brought against DuPont by another former employee.

The information that had been withheld during the federal whistleblower lawsuit described workplace safety violations and long-term chemical releases at the Burnside sulfuric acid plant. An employee filed the federal whistleblower lawsuit in an attempt to put an end to these serious issues.  The withheld information was contained in a spreadsheet that should have been provided to the whistleblower’s attorneys by DuPont during the discovery phase of the whistleblower lawsuit.  Additionally, DuPont did not disclose to the court or to the whistleblower’s attorneys that a citation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had been issued in November of 2014 due to ongoing chemical leaks and workplace safety hazards at the plant.

The setting aside of the verdict is probably not the end of the line for this federal whistleblower case. DuPont officials are likely to appeal the setting aside of the verdict because they feel that the information in question would not have affected the outcome of the federal whistleblower trial. Because the information is related to the pollution and workplace safety issues that form the basis for the federal whistleblower case, it is possible that such an appeal by DuPont may not be successful. Whatever the eventual outcome of this case and the other case against DuPont which caused the previously withheld information to be brought to light, this incident has brought renewed attention to DuPont and its problems with pollution and workplace safety.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Advocating for Whistleblowers throughout Mississippi

Whistleblower lawsuits can be lengthy and complicated. However, many whistleblowers feel as though any difficulties that they encountered during the course of their case were minor, compared to the feeling of having done what they felt was the right thing to do, regardless of what the outcome of their case was. If you are interested in filing a whistleblower claim, the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC may be able to help you. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping our clients navigate the complexities of whistleblower lawsuits by providing them with comprehensive support every step of the way.  To learn more about how we can help you, please call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today, at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free, initial consultation.

/by

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys Talk about How One Whistleblower Case Can Lead to Other Lawsuits

Sometimes, a whistleblower case can bring important information to light which can form the basis for other lawsuits. Specifically, a whistleblower lawsuit that was brought against State Farm by two former independent claims adjusters has led to an additional investigation into whether fraud may have occurred in other State Farm cases involving property damage claims related to Hurricane Katrina.

The whistleblower lawsuit against State Farm was brought by Cori and Kerry Rigsby who claimed that State Farm employees, in attempt to avoid paying out valid property damage claims, were fraudulently pressuring engineers to classify property damage as flood damage instead of wind damage. State Farm is a private insurer that issues policies that cover wind damage but not flood damage.  Hence, if the damage to a property is caused by a flood, the company does not have to pay the claim.

It is possible that if State Farm employees did improperly shift the burden of paying one storm damage claim that they should have paid over to the federal flood insurance program, the company could also have done so in thousands of other Hurricane Katrina storm damage claims throughout the state of Mississippi. In some cases, it was difficult to classify storm damage as clearly having been caused by wind or water, especially when all that remained of a building was a bare slab. There is least one case in which it has been conclusively established that State Farm acted fraudulently in classifying damage as having been caused by water when it had in fact been caused by wind. Depending upon the amount of fraud that actually occurred, the federal flood insurance program may have paid out many hundreds of thousands of dollars on claims that should have been covered by State Farm.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Top Quality Legal Assistance for Mississippi Whistleblowers

When a lawsuit brought by a whistleblower exposes conduct that could possibly give rise to other lawsuits, the whistleblowers involved in that case can feel confident that their actions could go a long way towards serving the greater good. Whistleblower cases are not easy, though, and whistleblowers need support that they can count on. The Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC will do whatever they can to help you with your whistleblower claim. Our attorneys know that you may have concerns or questions as your whistleblower case moves along, and we can help you find the answers that you need. To learn more about Mississippi whistleblower lawsuits and about how we can help you, please call the experienced and dedicated Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (601) 790-1505 to schedule your free, initial consultation.

/by