Category: WHISTLEBLOWERS
Whistleblowers in the Intelligence Community
There are many different statutes that provide protections to whistleblowers, and in some instances, also provide specific procedures to follow. That is the case with the federal whistleblower in the news these days. That whistleblower works in the Intelligence Community, where blowing the whistle may involve classified information. The intelligence community defines whistleblowing as “the …
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Celebrating National Whistleblower Appreciation Day
On this National Whistleblower Day, Halunen Law recognizes the tremendous contribution that whistleblowers make to our everyday lives— protecting our health, safety, and taxes. These contributions have been happening since the earliest days of the United States. The Founding Fathers unanimously supported whistleblowers in both words and deeds, including providing government records and monetary assistance …
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Disgruntled Employees? You Bet. Whistleblowers in the United States
A few years back, a news article reported that a meeting of corporate defense attorneys had called out whistleblowers as primarily “disgruntled employees.” This remark reflects a too-common perspective that whistleblowers are a nuisance rather than a contributor to the well-being of our businesses and our government. Far from being a nuisance, whistleblowers are champions …
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WHISTLEBLOWERS AT MINNESOTA FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES
It is important that employees are able to report improper or dangerous conditions that they observe in their workplaces. When someone is aware that fraudulent or dangerous practices could negatively impact the public, they are often uniquely positioned to report the problem. Unfortunately, an employee who is aware of a violation of the law may …
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Whistleblowers Take a Stand – Cheating Legitimate Small Businesses Out of Government Contracts
Much of the work of the federal government is accomplished through contracts with non-governmental entities. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, those contracts added up to more than $500 billion. The Legislature wants a good portion (23%) of those dollars to go to small businesses as a means of strengthening the nations’ economy. …
On National Whistleblower Day . . . Ode to Whistleblowers
Becoming a whistleblower is a process that is not invited or welcome. It confronts individuals with a reality they cannot ignore and calls them to take a stand in a place they would not choose. But for their sense of integrity, whistleblowers would prefer to remain among those who are silent.
Avoiding the Orange Jumpsuit: Worldwide Corporate Fraud
In its 2016 Annual Review of Corporate Fraud and Corruption, Financier Worldwide magazine reported that every year, corporate fraud causes companies to lose about 5% of their annual revenue.1 In dollar terms, this converts to trillions of dollars each year lost through fraud worldwide. As a result of this problem, countries globally are introducing new …
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Allegiance Health Management, Inc. Agrees to Pay $1.7 Million in False Claims Act Settlement
Beginning in 2005, Allegiance entered into agreements with hospitals located in the Southeastern United States to provide Intensive Outpatient Psychotherapy services to patients who were Medicare beneficiaries on the hospitals’ behalf. The settlement resolves allegations that many patients were provided services that did not qualify for Medicare reimbursement but were billed as such.
Halunen Law Seeks Justice for Special Education Teacher, Whistleblower
Halunen Law attorneys Ross Stadheim and Blaine Balow filed a lawsuit in United States District Court—District of Minnesota on behalf of Karen Abbott, a special education teacher in Independent School District 518. The suit claims the district unlawfully retaliated against Ms. Abbott —including harassment and a formal reprimand—because she reported special education violations. Ms. Abbott’s …
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The Second Amendment Does Not Protect Assault Weapons
Contrary to popular rhetoric, there is no Constitutional impediment to outlawing assault weapons. Federal law has banned them before, as evidenced by the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, which—unfortunately—was allowed to expire in 2004. Importantly, the Supreme Court has clearly stated that the Second Amendment does not protect assault weapons. District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 …
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