Whistleblower Rewards

July 27, 2017

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a whistleblower award of more than $1.7 million to a company insider who provided the agency with critical information to help stop a fraud that would have otherwise been difficult to detect.  Millions of dollars were returned to harmed investors as a result of the SEC’s ensuing investigation and enforcement action.  ''When whistleblowers tip the SEC, it not only can bring wrongdoers to justice but also relief to investors,'' said Jane Norberg, Chief of the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower.  ''This whistleblower's valuable information enabled us to stop further investor harm and ultimately return money to victims.''  Approximately $158 million has now been awarded to 46 whistleblowers who voluntarily provided the SEC with original and useful information that led to a successful enforcement action. SEC

July 25, 2017

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an award of nearly $2.5 million to an employee of a domestic government agency whose whistleblower tip helped launch an SEC investigation and whose continued assistance enabled the SEC to address a company's misconduct. ''Whistleblowers can provide a wealth of information and ongoing assistance that helps our agency bring enforcement actions quicker and more efficiently,'' said Jane Norberg, Chief of the SEC's Office of the Whistleblower.  ''This whistleblower not only helped us open the case, but also provided timely ongoing assistance along with critical documents and testimony that accelerated the pace of our enforcement action.'' Approximately $156 million has now been awarded to 45 whistleblowers who voluntarily provided the SEC with original and useful information that led to a successful enforcement action.  No money has been taken or withheld from harmed investors to pay whistleblower awards. SEC

July 27, 2017

The SEC made a whistleblower award of more than $1.7 million to an undisclosed company insider who provided the agency with critical information to help stop a fraud that would have otherwise been difficult to detect.  The SEC reports that roughly $158 million has now been awarded to 46 whistleblowers who voluntarily provided the SEC with original and useful information that led to a successful enforcement action.  SEC

July 25, 2017

The SEC made a whistleblower award of nearly $2.5 million to an undisclosed employee of a domestic government agency whose whistleblower tip helped launch an SEC investigation and whose continued assistance enabled the SEC to address a company's misconduct.  SEC

July 24, 2017

Myra Gross, a former patient of Dr. James Norman, owner of Florida-based Norman Parathyroid Center, and her husband Dr. David Gross, will receive a whistleblower award of roughly $600,000 from the $4 million Dr. Norman agreed to pay to resolve allegations he violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for pre-operative examination services for which he had already received payment from the government.  DOJ (MDFL)

July 24, 2017

New Jersey-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Celgene Corp. agreed to pay $280 million to settle charges of violating the False Claims Act by promoting two cancer treatment drugs -- Thalomid and Revlimid -- for uses not approved by the FDA.  The allegations included the use of false and misleading statements about the drugs, and paying kickbacks to physicians to induce them to prescribe the drugs.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by former Celgene sales manager Beverly Brown.  She will receive a yet-to-be-determined whistleblower award from the proceeds of the government's recovery.  DOJ (CDCA)

July 17, 2017

Former Olympia Therapy Inc. employee Vladimir Trakhter and former Tridia Hospice Care Inc. employees Paula Bourne and La’Tasha Goodwin will collectively receive a whistleblower award of more than $3.6 million from the roughly $19.5 million Olympia, Tridia and Foundations Health Solutions Inc. agreed to pay to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by submitting to Medicare claims for medically unnecessary rehabilitation therapy services and for hospice services to patients not eligible for the Medicare benefit, and by soliciting and receiving kickbacks to refer patients from their skilled nursing facilities to home health care provider Amber Home Care LLC.