Whistleblowers can come from any agency. Recently, a geographic information system (GIS) manager filed a complaint against the executive director of the West Virginia Water Development Authority. People coming forward like this are necessary to expose fraud against government agencies.
Fraud against Public Services
The West Virginia Water Development Authority (WDA) serves as a revenue bond bank that provides financing for construction of wastewater and water facilities to local governmental agencies. The water authority finances water and sewer projects across the state, overseeing more than $3.8 billion in funding.
Investigation
Over the past year, the state Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations has been scrutinizing the water authority. They are focusing on its spending and hiring practices. The whistleblower led authorities to investigate the water authority hiring temporary workers. They would then provide with full-time perks such as paid holidays, sick leave and the use of state-owned vehicles.
It was uncovered that a water authority board member hadn’t attended a single board meeting since 2011. However, he was still collecting an almost $60,000 salary for five years. His term even expired in 2012, but he was still on the payroll. The payments only stopped after the local newspaper asked about his salary for doing nothing.
The Law Protects and Rewards a Whistleblower
When a knowledgeable attorney like those found at The Michael Brady Lynch Firm files a False Claims Act lawsuit, he or she files it under a seal. This means it is completely confidential. There is also a full disclosure statement in the suit, which details the evidence collected by a whistleblower.
After we file your suite, the Department of Justice will review the evidence before deciding to step in and decide if they want to prosecute the case. The government’s fraud investigator will work closely with you, the whistleblower to identify all responsible for the fraud.
You could be entitled to 15-30% of the funds recovered. In order to receive the reward, you must be the first one to file a case under the False Claims Act. This is why it is key to pick an experienced attorney to work quickly get your compensation.