Illinois: Whistleblower & Qui Tam Lawyers

The United States has numerous safeguards in place to make sure that those who file whistleblower claims can do so without being targeted for doing the right thing. If you wish to report your employer's fraud or misconduct but you're worried that they will retaliate against you if you report their actions, a whistleblower law firm in Illinois can help.

Whistleblower attorneys can give you information about all of the protections that you have in a whistleblower case, including protection granted by Illinois law and federal laws against demotion, harassment or other types of retaliation from your employer.

Types Of Whistleblower Claims

Employees become whistleblowers by reporting various forms of illegal activity carried out by employers and other entities. These activities can include:

• Environmental violations (often involving release of toxic substances into the air or water)
• Kickbacks and bribes
• Fraudulent billing or accounting fraud
• Tax fraud
• Securities fraud (SEC whistleblower cases)
• Health and safety violations
• Military contractor fraud/defense contractor fraud (bid rigging, invoice issues such as overcharging, contract violations)
• Procurement fraud
• Health care fraud (Medicaid fraud and Medicare fraud)
• Tax fraud and tax evasion

Law firms that handle whistleblower cases in Illinois can help you understand what options you have if you have knowledge of these or any other activities where an employer is violating the law. They make sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible and that you are protected during the whistleblowing process.

What Is A Qui Tam Lawsuit?

"Qui tam" is a legal term that typically arises in cases involving the federal False Claims Act. It relates to whistleblower claims where a person files a lawsuit alleging that a private entity is defrauding the federal government. In qui tam cases, the government can recover any funds that were illegally obtained, and the whistleblower may receive a portion of the amount recovered. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Dodd-Frank Act also contain qui tam provisions related to the securities and foreign corrupt practices.

Find Illinois Whistleblower Lawyers To Help You

Use FindLaw to hire a local whistleblower lawyer to protect you from retaliation and potentially even collect a percentage of the recovery.

In Illinois, a general estimate of the per-hour cost for a lawyer can range from about $130 to $400 per hour, depending on location, expertise and the complexity of the case in question.

In some cases, attorneys may opt to offer clients a flat-rate fee instead of a per-hour fee. This typically arises in criminal defense law as well as certain divorce court proceedings. A fee for a misdemeanor defense is usually far less than the flat fee for a felony defense. Representation on issues related to juvenile offenses and traffic offenses may cost you less than the representation on situations involving corporate law or bankruptcies.

Finally, certain lawyers, such as personal injury lawyers, typically offer clients representation based on contingency. If you win a settlement from such a case, such as slipping and falling at a business establishment and incurring a serious injury, your personal injury lawyer will retain a percentage of your total settlement, rather than charging you any per-hour or flat-rate fees.

If you cannot afford representation in a legal matter, legal aid may be an option to consider.

What Types of Cases Can an Illinois Lawyer Help With?

While an Illinois lawyer can take on cases of any sort, the most common criminal cases in Illinois involve simple assault or aggravated assault, sexual assault, violations of the Controlled Substances Act, burglary (business and residential), driving while under the influence (DUI) and severe violent crime such as homicide and armed robbery.

Illinois lawyers are also typically called upon to represent parties in marital disputes leading to divorce or separation, the custody battles common to such cases, and other civil proceedings.