When you witness corruption in government agencies or fraud in the financial sector, coming forward takes courage and carries significant risks. Employees who expose wrongdoing deserve protection, not punishment. If your employer retaliated against you for reporting government corruption or financial misconduct, contact Keating Law Firm for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey whistleblower lawyer.
CEPA Protects Whistleblowers
The New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq., protects employees who report or object to activities they reasonably believe violate a law, rule, regulation, or public policy. CEPA applies broadly and provides some of the strongest whistleblower protections in the country. Government employees, financial sector workers, and contractors who report corruption or fraud are all shielded from employer retaliation under CEPA. The act of speaking up under those circumstances is referred to as “protected whistleblowing activity”.
Government Corruption and Misconduct
Whistleblowers play a critical role in exposing waste, fraud, and abuse within government agencies at every level. Attorney Chris Keating represents employees who reported the following types of government corruption and faced retaliation:
- Misuse or misappropriation of public funds
- Fraudulent billing or invoicing by government contractors
- Bribery or kickback arrangements involving public officials
- Violations of procurement rules and bid-rigging
- Falsification of government records or reports
- Abuse of authority by government supervisors
Financial Sector Fraud
Employees in banks, investment firms, insurance companies, and other financial institutions occasionally possess firsthand knowledge of or uncover documented proof of illegal activity. Attorney Chris Keating represents financial sector whistleblowers who reported securities fraud, insider trading, bank and mortgage fraud, tax evasion schemes, money laundering, and consumer fraud. These cases often involve a complex trail of financial records, sometimes which have been altered or tampered with, and require an attorney who can effectively use those records to develop a litigation strategy and build a strong case using New Jersey’s whistleblower law.
Retaliation Remedies Under CEPA
Employees who suffer retaliation for reporting government corruption or financial fraud can pursue strong remedies under CEPA. Attorney Chris Keating works with clients to pursue back pay, front pay, lost benefits, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs. In some cases, if appropriate, an employee may also seek reinstatement to the position they once held.
Contact a Whistleblower Lawyer in New Jersey
If you have been retaliated against for reporting or complaining of government corruption or financial sector fraud, take action now to protect your rights. Call Keating Law Firm at (856) 519-5011 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Attorney Chris Keating represents whistleblowers in every county in New Jersey and fights for justice for the retaliation they suffered simply because they followed the law.