Railroad employees have many concerns on the job. Stressed-out travelers who could become dangerous if provoked. Customer-facing professionals typically have to handle even the most aggressive passengers with grace and patience to avoid complaints.
Others work in high-risk environments where injury is a constant concern. In some cases, railroad employees may fear becoming involved in criminal activity due to the conduct of their employers. In scenarios where railroad employees realize that their employers have engaged in fraudulent billing practices, they may be able to file qui tam lawsuits.
Under the False Claims Act, employees with knowledge of fraudulent billing activity involving the government can act as relators. If the qui tam lawsuit they initiate is successful, the employee might actually be eligible for financial compensation.
Relators take personal risks
Technically, whistleblowers have protection under state and federal statutes. Employers should not fire them, demote them or otherwise punish them for reporting illegal activity. Unfortunately, many businesses that are willing to violate one federal law might break others, as well.
Companies that become aware that employees have reported misconduct to the authorities or taken legal action might fire that worker. They may even provide inaccurate and negative information to outside parties during background checks when employees seek jobs elsewhere after acting as relators.
The False Claims Act authorizes relators to receive between 15 and 25% of the funds recovered through the lawsuit. That compensation helps defray the losses and common career setbacks related to acting as a railroad whistleblower.
The more thoroughly railroad employees prepare before filing a qui tam lawsuit, the better their chances of prevailing. Gathering documentation and securing legal support are both critical steps for railroad whistleblowers.
Subscribe To This Blog's Feed