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CAN WHISTLEBLOWERS REMAIN ANONYMOUS?


Blowing the whistle on wrongdoing is an act of bravery – both because it requires speaking out and because it places the whistleblower in a vulnerable position for retaliation. Retaliating against a whistleblower is illegal. In many cases, so too is the behavior being reported. This is not reassuring. Especially when the actions being reported may involve supervisors or those in a position to harm you and your family financially.

It is illegal for a company to retaliate against a whistleblower.

Companies should have mechanisms in place to protect whistleblowers from retaliation but are not required to do so. For government wrongdoing, the False Claims Act gives whistleblowers some anonymity at first, but even these will eventually result in a release of the whistleblower’s identity. As a whistleblower, this is simply an accepted risk. It is not a risk that needs to be undertaken alone.

WEIGHING THE CONSEQUENCES

You are legally protected against any type of mistreatment resulting from reporting wrongdoing, but may need an attorney on your side to ensure this happens. Many companies take great strides to protect whistleblowers. Others do not. Having an attorney on your side is one of the best ways to ensure you are protected as your case moves forward.

Failure to report illegal, illicit, or immoral activity can weigh heavy on the conscience. If you are compelled to live morally, there is no choice when it comes to whistleblowing. What’s more, depending on circumstances, simply having knowledge of wrongdoing can make a person culpable. This means failure to report may weight heavy and result in criminal charges or even more involvement in an investigation.

In every case, when you become aware of wrongdoing, it is best to report. It may be a good idea to talk to an attorney first, however, to make sure you are protected as you move forward.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC can help from the beginning of your case, assisting you in identifying those parties that need to be exposed and guiding you towards the most effective strategy for moving forward. Having one of our whistleblower attorneys on your side right away can also help protect you against retaliation. Our attorneys have decades of experience standing up to powerful interests and holding these entities accountable for the actions of their employees, regardless of how high up the ladder corruption goes.

We have a comprehensive understanding of whistleblower and Qui Tam laws in Georgia and throughout the nation, and have enjoyed repeated success against large corporations and other powerful interests that bend or break rules to get their way. We are here to protect, assist, and fight alongside whistleblowers during every stage of a claim. We welcome an opportunity to meet with you – free of cost and obligation – to help you determine how to best move forward with your case.

Please call Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC at 404-760-7400 to schedule your complimentary whistleblower consultation today. Our office is in Atlanta. Our whistleblower protection attorneys serve Savannah, Columbus, Decatur, Augusta, and all surrounding areas of Georgia.