Whistleblower Question of the Week: How Do Financial Rewards Work for Whistleblowers?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team In the United States, financial rewards for whistleblowers are offered through several government programs designed to encourage individuals to report fraud, misconduct, or violations of the law. What Is a Whistleblower Reward? By initiating actions under the False Claims Act and other whistleblower reward laws and programs, whistleblowers may receive a percentage of the money the government recovers as a result of their information. If...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: Does Participating in Fraud Disqualify You from Becoming a Whistleblower?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Participating in fraud does not necessarily disqualify someone from becoming a whistleblower or from receiving a whistleblower reward. But it may complicate matters or impact the amount awarded under the various whistleblower reward laws and programs. Generally, a whistleblower is barred from receiving a reward only when the whistleblower planned or initiated the fraud or is ultimately convicted of a crime related to the reported...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: What Was America’s First Whistleblower Law?

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RewcZFnX7bg&t=2s[/embed] By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team July 30th is National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, honoring a historical moment from 1778 when the U.S. Continental Congress unanimously passed the nation’s first whistleblower law during the American Revolution. The Founding Fathers recognized the importance of whistleblowers and took meaningful steps to protect them. Their action laid the groundwork for future generations of whistleblowers to speak up against wrongdoing and misconduct. Even in a...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: What’s the Risk in Waiting to Blow the Whistle?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team When it comes to reporting fraud or misconduct, timing matters. It is important to consult an experienced whistleblower attorney as soon as you think you may have a case. Acting quickly can mean the difference between a strong case and one that risks dismissal or a reduced whistleblower award. And when misconduct is reported early, there is a greater chance for meaningful change. A whistleblower...

Trump Administration Places Renewed Focus on DOJ Pilot Whistleblower Program

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Last summer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program to focus on criminal activity that generally falls outside the major established whistleblower rewards programs such as the False Claims Act and the SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, and IRS whistleblower programs.  Other than some additional guidance on the Program former DOJ Criminal Chief Nicole Argentieri provided last September, there has been virtually no mention of the Program since.  Until...

Constantine Cannon Partner Gordon Schnell Featured in The Hill on How Trump May Be Clearing a Path for Whistleblowers

Last Thursday (February 27), The Hill published an OpEd piece by Constantine Cannon whistleblower lawyer Gordon Schnell on how President Trump may be clearing a path for whistleblowers.  Schnell offered three reasons why an unintended consequence of President Trump’s efforts to dramatically cut federal agency staff and resources may be to create an opening for whistleblowers to step into the void. First, Schnell points to the strong bipartisan support that...

Top 5 CFTC Recoveries for 2024

From our recent survey of top SEC fraud recoveries this past year, we found it was not an especially standout year for the securities regulator in terms of big-dollar hauls.  It was not necessarily a banner year for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) either in terms of its fraud recoveries.  Only five of them brought in 9-digit amounts or higher. But the Number 1 hit -- the eye-popping $12.7...

Top 10 Most Notable Whistleblower Stories and Government Enforcement Actions of 2024

We don’t often like to pick favorites, but when the moment strikes, we glance back at the previous year’s news to reflect. This January, as we unveiled our series of Top-10 lists, we reviewed 2024’s robust archive of Whistleblower Insider Blog posts to revisit a wide range of compelling topics, government enforcements, settlements, and extraordinary whistleblower stories. On this list, we covered some historic wins to the tune of eye-popping...

Fourth Constantine Cannon Law School Scholarship Essay Contest On The Importance Of Whistleblowers

The Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team is pleased to announce the launch of its Fourth Law School Scholarship Essay Contest on the Importance of Whistleblowers. This is an opportunity for law school students—the future leaders of the Bar—to share their thoughts on what it means to be a whistleblower and the critical role they play in serving the public good. We are especially interested in your own personal experience in speaking...

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 it will operate and the precise...