Whistleblowers
Jacobson Law P.A. represents financial advisors and other individuals and groups in whistleblower actions.
A whistleblower is any person who has and reports insider knowledge of illegal activities occurring within a company or organization. Whistleblowers can be employees, suppliers, contractors, clients, or any individual who becomes aware of illegal activities taking place in a business either through witnessing the behavior or being told about it. Whistleblowers may report the misconduct internally (to other people within the company) or externally (to regulators, law enforcement agencies, the media, or groups concerned with the issues).
The federal government and several states have enacted specific laws designed to encourage whistleblowers to come forward by providing protections against retaliation and rewards for reporting fraudulent activity.
In 2007, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) established the IRS Whistleblower Office to process tips received from individuals who spot tax problems in their workplace, while conducting day-to-day personal business, or anywhere else they may be encountered. To motivate people to notify the IRS of first-hand knowledge of tax-evasion schemes, Congress has directed the IRS to pay eligible tipsters at least 15% and as much as 30% of taxes, penalties, and interest collected in cases where $2 million or more is at stake.
In 2010, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) created the SEC Office of the Whistleblower to reward whistleblowers for insider trading tips and complaints. Congress has authorized the SEC to pay 10% and up to 30% of the money collected to eligible individuals who come forward with high-quality original information that leads to an SEC enforcement action in which over $1 million in sanctions is ordered. The U.S Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) created a similar program called the CFTC Whistleblower Office.
At Jacobson Law, we understand that privacy is critical. Our attorneys will keep your information confidential unless a disclosure is specifically required in connection with your claim or you authorize to make a disclosure.
If you have information of violations of the federal securities or tax laws (or any other laws) and wish to explore your options — and potential monetary awards — contact Jacobson Law P.A. to discuss the specific facts of your case.