Whistleblower Insider Blog

DOJ Provides Further Guidance On Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program

On August 1, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, focusing on criminal activity that largely falls outside the scope of the existing whistleblower programs—namely, the False Claims Act and the SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, and IRS whistleblower programs. While DOJ previously provided guidance and a fact sheet on the scope of the Pilot Program, many questions remain on how...

Second-Place Winner of Constantine Cannon’s Whistleblower Essay Contest: Lana Thurman

The Constantine Cannon whistleblower team is pleased to share with you the Second-Place Winner of the firm’s Third Law School Scholarship Essay Contest on the importance of whistleblowers. That award (and the $500 prize) goes to Lana Thurman, a first-year student at UA Little Rock William H. Bowen Law School.

In her essay, Lana reflects on her transformative experience during a service project in a small...

Florida Whistleblowers Expose Insurance Fraud Amid Hurricane Ian Recovery

Hurricane Helene has devastated Florida with its 140 mph winds, destroying homes and businesses, and at least 115 people have died across six states (as of September 30, 2024). On top of this, many Flordians are still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Not only from the physical damage but from battles with their insurance companies, who they say are failing them in their time of need.

In a recent report...

SEC Settles Charges Against (Yet Another) Company for Claims It Violated Whistleblower Protection Rules with Agreements Limiting the Ability to Report to SEC

The SEC recently announced settled charges against investment adviser GQG Partners LLC over claims it entered into agreements that made it harder for individuals to report potential violations to the SEC. This is yet another example of the SEC enforcing whistleblower protections and going after companies that try to inhibit reporting to the SEC.

In this case, the SEC charged that GQG asked potential employees to sign...

Ra Medical Systems and Physicians Pay Over $8M to Resolve Kickback and FCA Allegations Relating To PAD Medical Laser

Yesterday, the DOJ announced Ra Medical Systems, Inc. and two physicians have agreed to collectively pay over $8 million to settle kickback and False Claims Act allegations related to a medical laser marketed for atherectomies to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD). The settlement includes payments from Dr. Elias Kassab of Michigan and Dr. David Allie of Louisiana for allegedly accepting kickbacks to use and promote...

A Culture of Silence in Sports & A Call to Strengthen Whistleblower Protections

In 2016, the media sent shockwaves through the nation when it broke the story of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal. Over 500 athletes bravely disclosed the abuse they faced at the hands of coaches, gym owners, and doctors associated with USAG for over two decades. Disgraced national team doctor Larry Nassar was charged with assaulting at least 265 children and young women over more than 14 years, revealing a...

In Their Own Words ... David Lochridge, Former OceanGate Operations Director

“The whole idea behind [OceanGate] was to make money, that’s it…there was very little in the way of science” . . . “I didn't want to lose my job. I wanted to do the Titanic. But to dive it safely. It was on my bucket list, too....” —David Lochridge, former OceanGate operations director and whistleblower testifying before U.S. Marine Board of Investigation.  Watch here.

CFTC Makes Four Whistleblower Awards — Relatively Small But Notable

On Monday (September 23), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced four whistleblower awards under the CFTCs Whistleblower Program. They are the latest in a string of awards — all relatively modest — the commodities regulator has made since the Spring. This includes awards made on August 30 ($4 million); August 8 ($1M); June 17 ($8M); June 3 ($4.5M); and March 14 ($1.25M).

The awards this...

Third Place Winner of Constantine Cannon’s Whistleblower Essay Contest: Leah Bechtold

The Constantine Cannon whistleblower team is pleased to share with you the Third-Place Winner of the firm’s Third Law School Scholarship Essay Contest on the importance of whistleblowers. That award (and the $400 prize) goes to Leah Bechtold, a first-year student at Indiana University McKinney School of Law.

In her compelling essay, Leah details the heroic efforts of  Rachael Denhollander, one of the...

Fourth Place Winner of Constantine Cannon’s Whistleblower Essay Contest: Grace Chisholm

The Constantine Cannon whistleblower team is pleased to share with you the Fourth-Place Winner of the firm’s Third Law School Scholarship Essay Contest on the importance of whistleblowers. That award (and the $300 prize) goes to Grace Chisholm, a first-year student at Yale Law School.

In her essay, Grace narrates the role of whistleblowers in shaping American press freedom, focusing on Gar Alperovitz’s...