At Rosen Hagood, our skilled team of attorneys provides our clients with sound advice and representation in Qui Tam, Whistleblower, and Fraud Litigation.

Our attorneys provide experienced and aggressive representation to private citizen “whistleblowers” looking to bring fraud cases on the government’s behalf as well as their own, in what is commonly referred to as a “qui tam” case.

We represent clients during these unusual procedures under a federal law known as the False Claims Act (FCA) to obtain a 15 to 30 percent share of the government’s recovery in such cases.

Representing Whistleblowers

Those who come forward and alert the government of corruption or fraud within governmental agencies, programs, and even companies with government involvement are not only incentivized for documenting injustices, but they are also protected by both state and federal law.

However, all too often employees with good intentions face adverse employment actions every day because they choose to come alert authorities of problems and corruption.

At Rosen Hagood, our team of experienced and dedicated lawyers have worked with countless individuals to provide them with sound advice and legal representation, in Qui Tam and Whistleblower actions.

By providing comprehensive and aggressive representation, we have helped individuals successfully file fraud claims on the government’s behalf, as well as protect workers’ rights in the workplace

What is a Whistleblower Action?

A whistleblower action which is also known as a qui tam lawsuit occurs when an employee suspects that their company has committed some wrongdoing such as fraud, maintaining an unsafe working environment, defrauding state or federal government agencies, or violating environmental regulations and voices their concern.

Both state and federal laws encourage employees to report corporate wrongdoing and afford employees protections from their employees.

South Carolina’s “whistleblower statute” provides employees of state government agencies financial incentives for reporting fraudulent acts, abusive policies, or other violations of South Carolina and federal laws.

Who can Bring a Whistleblower or Qui Tam Action?

There are numerous parties who may be entitled to file a whistleblower or qui tam action against an employer including:

  • Current employees
  • Former employees
  • Contractors
  • Subcontractors
  • Competitors
  • Federal employees
  • Customers

You do not have to suffer some sort of personal harm in order to file a whistleblower or qui tam case.

Whistleblower Remedies

Under South Carolina’s whistleblower statute, if a government employee properly reports their employer, and the state then saves money as a result, that individual may receive a substantial amount of financial compensation, of either $2000 or up to twenty-five percent of the state’s estimated savings during the first year after a report is filed.

In addition, South Carolina’s Whistleblower Act provides employees who report wrongdoing from facing any of the following as a result of filing a report:

  • Dismissal
  • Suspension
  • Demotion
  • A decrease in compensation
  • In addition to providing protection from adverse employment actions, if you file a whistleblower or qui tam action and suffer an adverse employment action you may be entitled to:
  • Reinstatement to your former position
  • Recovery for lost wages
  • Up to $15,000 in actual damages
  • Fees for attorneys and costs

s.c code section 8-27-10

How a Whistleblower Qui Tam Lawyer Can Help

If you have considered filing a whistleblower action against your employer for wasting government funds, it is not something that you should do without the guidance of an experienced Charleston whistleblower action lawyer.

Furthermore, it is important to note that South Carolina’s whistleblower statutes do not provide protections for private employees, but only cover government employees.

However, you may be protected under federal laws such as the Federal Civil False Claims Act, and a member of our whistleblower team can help support you filing an action.

Charleston Whistleblower and Qui Tam Actions Lawyer