Does the False Claims Act provide protection for Whistleblowers?
The False Claims Act provides protection to employees who are retaliated against by an employer because of the employee’s participation in a qui tam action. The protection is available to any employee who is fired, demoted, threatened, harassed or otherwise discriminated against by his or her employer because the employee investigates, files or participates in a qui tam action. The “whistleblower” protection includes reinstatement and damages of double the amount of lost wages if the employee is fired, and any other damages sustained if the employee is otherwise discriminated against.