Whistleblower Claims

Mississippi Whistleblower Attorneys

An employee who acts as a whistleblower and reports unlawful conduct on the part of his or her employer or co-workers may experience retaliation. Common types of whistleblower retaliation include:

• Demotion
• Suspension
• Intimidation or harassment
• Termination of employment
• Other forms of threatening behavior

If you have suffered retaliation for reporting unlawful conduct at your place of employment, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss and damages. The whistleblower attorneys at our law firm, Watson & Norris, PLLC, in Jackson, Mississippi, are ready to help you.

Skilled • Professional • Compassionate

We fight for the rights and best interests of our clients.

There are more than 50 federal laws as well as state and local laws designed to provide protection for whistleblowers. It is a complex area of the law. Our law firm is one of few in the state whose lawyers regularly handle employment law cases at both the state and federal level. We are keenly aware of the pitfalls and know how to avoid them. Deadlines, for example, are critical in whistleblower claims and they vary greatly, depending in part on the agency involved:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  — 30 days for environmental whistleblowers
  — 90 days for airline workers and corporate employees
  — 180 days for truck drivers and nuclear whistleblowers
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
  — 45 days for federal workers
  — 180 or 300 days for private sector workers
• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
  — 180 days

Qui Tam Actions and the False Claims Act

Under the federal False Claims Act, a person who knows of fraud being committed against the U.S. government may bring a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. government. The whistleblower does not need to have personally suffered harm due to the unlawful conduct, but does need to be represented by an attorney to bring suit. As an incentive, a qui tam whistleblower may receive up to 25 percent of any award or settlement amount resulting from the lawsuit.