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Are You a Whistleblower?

Whistleblowers are frequently in the news and the term seems to be applied to a lot of different people.

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Are You a Whistleblower?

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  1. AreYoua Whistleblower? Whistleblowersarefrequentlyinthenewsandthetermseemstobeappliedtoalotofdifferentpeople. WHISTLEBLOWERATTORNEYS

  2. WHISTLEBLOWERATTORNEYS KELLERGROVERLLP LOSANGELES|OAKLAND|SANJOSE MainOffice: 1965MarketStreet SanFrancisco,CA94103 888.601.6939 ReportGovFraudNow.com Viewourdisclaimer

  3. JeffreyKellerPartner Jeffreyisanexperiencedfraudlawyer.Hehasbeenlitigatingonbehalfofcon-sumers,whistleblowersandsharehold-ersformorethan20years--successfullytakingonbanks,telecomcompanies,healthcareprovidersandhightechcom-panies,amongothers,incasesinvolving arangeoflegalissuesfromsecuritiesfraud,consumerfraudandfraudonthegovernmenttoantitrustviolationsandRICO.Jeffreyhasbeenrecognizedas aNorthernCaliforniaSuperLawyer®forhistirelesslitigationefforts.Amonghiscareerachievementsarehisroleasclassco-counselandco-trialcounselinoneofthelargestcivilsettlementeverapprovedbyafederalcourt(InreVisa Check/MasterMoneyAntitrustLitiga- tion,CaseNo.CV-96-5238(EDNY),whichsettledinApril2003for$3.383billionwithanadditionalestimated$25- 87billionininjunctivereliefvaluedoverthedecadefollowingthesettlement) andthelargestreportedsettlementin Californiain2010(Friedmanetalv24 HourFitnessUSA,Inc.,CaseNoCV-06- 062382(C.D.Cal),whichsettledRICOandEFTAclaimsonbehalfofanation-wideclassofapproximately1.5millionconsumersvaluedatapproximately $295million).Jeffreybringsthisexten-siveexperienceinvestigatingandexpos-ingfraudandotherunlawfulconducttoeachofhiswhistleblowerclients. Clickhereto viewJeffrey Keller’sfull biography. KathleenScanlanFederalWhistleblowerLawyer Kateisaseasonedlitigatorwithmore thanadozenyears’experienceincom-plexlitigationinbothCaliforniastatecourtsandfederalcourtsaroundthecountry.Hercaseshaveincludedissuesarisingfromrealestatefraud,health-carefraud,consumerfraudandfraud onthegovernmentaswellasantitrustandRICOviolationsandbreachesoffiduciaryduties.KateplaysthecriticalroleatKellerGroverofdevelopingthefactualrecordnecessarytoprevailinanylitigation.Shedoesthisusingher specialtalentforgatheringrelevantfacts,frombothwitnessesanddocuments, anddistillingtheinformationdowntoacomprehensivelegalrecord.Herabilityisattributableinparttoherwillingnesstodiveinandlearnthedetailsofthe industryinvolvedinanygivencase,to understandhowtheallegedconductoc-curredandhowitviolatesthelaw.HerskillswereinstrumentalinKellerGro-ver’ssuccessfuleffortsonbehalfofthenationwideclassofconsumersinFried-manv.24HourFitnesswheresheledthebriefingteamandarguedthesuccessfulclasscertificationmotionaswellasthesuccessfuloppositiontoasummaryjudg-mentmotiononRICOviolationsarisingoutofelectronicfundtransfersbetweenconsumersand24HourFitness.Kate’seffortsareinvaluabletoKellerGrover’swhistleblowerclientswheresheworkstirelesslytoprepareanycasethewhis-tleblowerbringstothegovernment,an-ticipatingandansweringpotentialques-tionsbeforethecaseiseverpresented. Clickhereto viewKathleenScanlan’sfullbiography. KELLERGROVERLLP|888.601.6939 AreYouaWhistleblower?|1

  4. Contents 03 04 04 AreYoua Whistleblower? Alreadytalkedwithyour employer? Hasthefraudbyyour companybeenkeepingyouuplateatnight? 06thatawhistleblowershouldhavetobringaFalseClaimsActcase? 07Whatarethedifferenttypesofwhis- 07WhatistheFalseClaimsAct? 08Whatifthewhistleblowerlearnedofthe 08IfWhistleblowersReportFraud,Are TheyProtectedfromRetaliation? 04 05 05 UniqueBlendof Experience Istheresomesmokingguntypeevidence Whatisawhistleblower? WhatLawsCanaWhis- tleblowerUse? tleblowerFalseClaimsActcases? WhatdoesQuiTam mean? 05 06 06 Whatarewhistleblower rewards? fraudfrompubliclyavailableinformation? Whatdoesthewhis- tleblowerneedtoknowaboutthewrongdoing? 2|AreYouaWhistleblower? 888.601.6939|KELLERGROVERLLP

  5. Are You a Whistleblower? Whistleblowersarefrequentlyinthenewsandthetermseemstobeappliedtoalotofdifferentpeople. Sowhoisawhistleblower? Generally,awhistleblowerissomeonewho Whatarethecommon typesoffraudonthegovernmentwherewhistleblowerstypicallyhaveinformation? exposesinformationthatisnotjustsensi- tive;itrevealsactualwrongdoing.Thatwrong- doingcantakemanyformsandthere’salot ofdebateaboutwhethersomewhistleblowers areactinglawfullyornot.Whenitcomestoa fraudonthegovernment,though,thereisno doubtthatCongresswantsthose whistleblowerstocomeforward– somuchsothatitcreatedspecial lawstoencouragethemtocome forward,protectthemwhenthey doandrewardthemfordoingit. Awhistleblowerwithevidenceof fraudonthegovernmentmaybe abletousethefederalorstateFalse ClaimsActstohelpexposethe 1.Healthcarefraud 2.Governmentcontractanddefensefraud 3.Corporate SEC/securitiesfraud 4.Othertypesoffraudagainstthegovernmentlike: »Failuretofulfillgovernmentgrants »Taxfraud »Misreportingimportsoncustomsdocuments »Countlessothertypesoffraud fraud,recovermoneyonbehalfofthegovern- ment,protectthemselvesfromimproperretali-ation,andshareinthereward. Clickhere towatchourvideo Thegovernmentisthelargestpurchaserof productsandservicesinthecountry.Billionsoftaxpayerdollarsarelosteveryyeartogovern-mentfraud.Fraudonthegovernmentcancomeinmanydifferentflavorsaffectingmanydiffer-entindustries. KELLERGROVERLLP|888.601.6939 AreYouaWhistleblower?|3

  6. Alreadytalkedwith youremployer? Alotofwhistleblowersreportwhattheywitnessinternally attheiremployerbeforetheycontactalawyer.Theyexpecttheproblemisjustanoversight ormistakeandwillberemediedassoonastheypointoutthat ithappened.Unfortunately,manytimes,that’swhenthewhistleblowerlearnsit’snomistakeatallandtheretalia-tionagainstthembegins.It’s ascenariowe’veseenplayoutoverandoveragainandwhywealwayswantthewhistleblow- ertocontactanexperiencedwhistleblowerlawyerbeforetheyraiseanissueinternallyattheirworkplace.Butifawhis-tleblowerhasalreadyreportedthefraudinternally,it’snevertoolatetotalkwithalawyer.Anexperiencedwhistleblowerlawyerwillcomeuptospeedquicklyonthecompletesitu-ationanddiveintohelpthewhistleblowernavigatedeci-sion-makingaboutwhether tobringanaction.Anexpe-riencedwhistleblowerlawyerwillalsohelpprotectagainstretaliationrelatedtoreportingthewrongdoing...Ifthecaseissuccessful,thewhistleblowerlawyerwillalsoadvocateforthewhistleblowertoobtainthemaximumamountavailableunderthelawastheirrewardforexposingthefraud. Hasthefraudbyyour companybeenkeepingyouuplateatnight? Whistleblowersarecourageous,dedicatedpeopleandIknowfirst-handhowtheyareimpact-edbywhatthey’vewitnessedandhowcommittedtheyare toexposingwhattheyknow.Theydeservealegalteamthat isasinvestedastheyare.That’ssomethingIamproudtosayKellerGroverdoesreallywell.We’reinthistogetherwith ourwhistleblowers.Wedevotesignificanttimeandthefirm’sresourcestoeveryoneofourwhistleblowercases.Sometimesthesecasescangoonformorethanfiveyears,too.Sincewedon’tgetpaidunlessourwhis-tleblowersaresuccessful,ourinvestmentisproofofourcom-mitmenttoeachwhistleblowerwerepresent. UniqueBlendof Experience WhenwhistleblowerscometoKellerGrovertheyoftentimeswillhavelearnedofafraudontheirjob.Thisalmostalwaysmeanstheyhaveworkplacelegalissuestoworkouttoo.Theyneedlawyerswhoarenotjustgoingtohelpthemexposethefraud.Theyneedalawyerwhoisgoingtohelpthemwiththeiremploymentissuestoo.Wehaveyearsofexperiencefightingfraudandrepresentingwhistleblowers.Butwealsohaveateamofskilledemploy-mentlawyerswithmorethan 20yearsofexperiencedealingwithemploymentissueswhosupportourwhistleblowerclientsinthatpartofthepro-cessaswell.Therearefirmsouttherewithexperiencein oneareaortheother.Butwe’rerareinthatwearecommitted torepresentingwhistleblowersandhaveexperienceinbothfraudandemploymentmatters. I’veworkedonallkindsof cases.Someofthemhaveevenre-shapedthewaybusinessisconductedincertainindus-tries.Butthecasesthatare themostsatisfyingformearethosewherewerepresentawhistleblowerexposingfraudonthegovernment.Wegettheprivilegeofrepresentingsome-onewhoissteppingforward toexposeawrongdoingthatiscostingallofusastaxpayers.Alotofpeoplegotolawschoolhopingthey’llrepresentclientslikethis.Weactuallydo. 4|AreYouaWhistleblower? 888.601.6939|KELLERGROVERLLP

  7. Whatisawhistleblower? Simplyputawhistlebloweristhepersonwho“blowsthe whistle”onmisconductbyreportingconcernsaboutalleged illegalorfraudulentconducttotheappropriateauthorities. Whenthewrongdoingisafraudonthegovernmentawhis- tleblowermightexposehealthcarefraud,defensecontractor fraud,procurementfraud,orevenfraudforunderpayingthe government.Mostimportantly,awhistleblowerwhohasinfor- mationaboutafraudonthegovernmentwillbeabletouselaws passedespeciallytoencourage,protectandpromotethisexact kindofwhistleblowing. Clickhereto watchourvideo WhatLawsCanaWhistleblowerUse? ThefederalFalseClaimsActisoneofthemostpowerfultoolsavailabletothewhistleblower.Itwasoriginallysignedintolawin1863tohelpcombatfraudbysupplierstotheUnitedStatesgovernmentduringtheCivilWar.Today,morethan150yearslater,theFalseClaimsActremainsoneofthefederal government’smosteffectiveweaponsinfightingfraudagainstthegovernment.Ithasbeensosuccessfulthatmanystatesandevensomecitieshavepassedsimilarlawstotargetfraudonthemtoo.So,dependingonwhothe“victim” ofthefraudis,thereareavarietyoflawsdesignedtohelpsomeone“blowthewhistle”onagovernmentfraud. Clickhereto watchourvideo WhatdoesQuiTammean? QuitamisaLatinphrasetodescribethespecialsituationwhereaprivatecitizenbringsalawsuittorecoveronbehalfofthegovern-ment.Thedefendantinaquitamlawsuitisacompanyorcitizenwhohascommittedfraudorviolatedcertaingovernmentalregula-tionsinacontractwiththegovernment.Whenaquitamlawsuit issuccessful,thegovernmentisentitledtotripleitsdamagesandthequitamwhistleblowergetsapercentageofwhateverthegov-ernmentrecovers.Quitamlawsuitsareaveryspecialpartnershipbetweenthegovernmentandprivatecitizensthatenablesthegov-ernmenttorecoverbillionsfromwrongdoerseveryyear. Clickheretowatchourvideo KELLERGROVERLLP|888.601.6939 AreYouaWhistleblower?|5

  8. Whatarewhistleblowerrewards? Yes.Mostwhistleblowersarenotfamiliarwithwhistleblow- errewards.Quitamwhistleblowers(referredtoas“relators”)receiveapercentageofthefundsthefederalorstategovernmentsuccessfullyrecoverseitherbysettlementorbyjudgment.Bylawthatamountis15to30percentofthegovernment’srecovery,dependingonafewfactors.Theserewardsprovideincentivestowhistleblowers,inpart,toacknowledgetheriskswhistleblowersmaytakeandtoencouragethemtocomeforwardtohelpidentifythesefraudsdespitethepotentialrisks. Clickheretowatchourvideo 6|AreYouaWhistleblower?888.601.6939|KELLERGROVERLLP Whatdoesthewhistleblowerneedtoknow aboutthewrongdoing? FalseClaimsActcasesare basicallyfraudcases.Toproveafraudawhistleblowerneedsmorethanasuspicionthatthere’swrongdoing.Agood ruleofthumbistoaskwhetheryoucananswerthewho,what, where,when,andwhyofthe fraud.Also,mostimportant-lycanyouexplainHOWthefraudoccurred.Thatiswhatthegovernmentisgoingtoask, andthat’swhatisgoingtohavetobeprovenincourt. Clickheretowatchourvideo Istheresomesmokingguntypeevidencethatawhistleblowershould havetobringaFalseClaimsActcase? IfI’velearnedanythingasa fraudlawyeroverthelast20years,it’sthatnotwocasesareexactlyalike.Sothereisjust nowaytosaywhatasmokinggunmightbeinaparticularinstance.Butanykindofdoc-umentsorotherinformationthatbackuporsupportwhatthewhistleblowerissaying happenedareextremelyhelpful.Anyinformationthatcanbeusedtomakeitharderforthe defendantaccusedoffraudto turnthecaseintoa‘hesaid,shesaid’kindofsituationwhereit’sthewhistleblower’swordagainsteveryoneelse’s.It’sactuallyoneofthemostimportantreasonsforapoten-tialwhistleblowertocontactawhistleblowerlawyerearly-tounderstandwhattheyhaveandtodecidebasedonthatinfor-mationwhethertogoforwardwithalawsuitornot. Clickheretowatchourvideo

  9. Clickhereto watchourvideo WhatistheFalseClaimsAct? TheFalseClaimsAct(“FCA”)isafederallawthatimposesliabilityoncompaniesorindividu-alswhodefraudthegovernmentbyimproperlyreceivingpaymentsfromtheFederalgovernment,avoidingpaymenttotheFederalgovernment,orfailingtoreturnoverpayments.TheFCAallowssomeonewithknowledgeoffraudonthegovern-ment,commonlycalledawhistleblowerwhoisactuallyknowninthecaseastherelator,tofile aquitamlawsuitonbehalfofthegovernmenttorecouptheamountsimproperlypaidtothedefendants.Bylaw,therelatorisentitledtoapercentageofwhateverthegovernmentrecoversifthecaseissuccessful. KELLERGROVERLLP|888.601.6939 Whatarethedifferenttypes ofwhistleblowerFalseClaims Actcases? TheUSgovernmentbuyseverythingfromcomputersandofficesuppliestohealthcareandguidedmissiles.Anycontractorselling aproductorservicetothegovernmentwhoengagesinfraudinagovernmentcontactmayfaceliabilityundertheFalseClaimsAct.Thatmeanswhistleblowercasescancomefrommanydifferentindustriesandwhistleblowerscanreportmanydiffer- enttypesoffraud,like:healthcarefraud,Medicarefraud,defensecontractorfraud,researchgrantfraud,pharmaceuticalfraud,constructionandprocurementfraud.Evenunderpayingthegovernmentisafraud. Clickhere towatchourvideo AreYouaWhistleblower?|7

  10. Whatifthewhis- tleblowerlearnedof thefraudfrompubliclyavailableinformation? Iftheonlyinformationthewhis-tleblowerhasispubliclyavailablethepublicdisclosurebarmaypre-ventthewhistleblowerfromgoingforwardwithalawsuit.Thatincludesthingspubliclydisclosedinanymedia,theinternet,courtrecords,administrativehearings,CongressionalhearingsorU.S.GeneralAccountingOfficere-ports.EvenFreedomofInforma-tionActrequestscanbeapublicdisclosure!Thereisanexception ifthewhistleblowerhasinde-pendentinformationthataddstowhatthegovernmentknowsso it’simportantthatanypersonwhomightthinktheyhaveacasetodiscusstheseissueswithanexpe-riencedwhistleblowerlawyer. Clickheretowatchourvideo IfWhistleblowersReport Fraud,AreTheyProtectedfromRetaliation? Ifawhistleblowerfacesretaliationrelatingtoeffortstoexposeviolationsoflaw–before,duringorafterbringingacase,thewhistleblowermaybringaclaimforretaliationundertheFalseClaimsActalongwiththequitamclaimonbehalfofthegovernment.Anydamagesrecoveredintheretali-ationclaim,whichcouldincludedoublebackpay,interest,costsandattorneys’fees,belongsolely tothewhistleblowerandarenotsharedwiththegovernment.Whistleblowersalsomayhaverightsunderthelawsofwhateverstatetheyareinwhichalsoprotectagainstretaliation.§ Clickheretowatchourvideo Visitusatonlinetofindoutmoreaboutwhistleblowers. 8|AreYouaWhistleblower? 888.601.6939|KELLERGROVERLLP

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  12. WHISTLEBLOWERATTORNEYS LOSANGELES|OAKLAND|SANJOSE MainOffice:1965MarketStreet,SanFrancisco,CA94103-888.601.6939 ReportGovFraudNow.com

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