Marlton, NJ -- (SBWire) -- 05/04/2018 --At the 24th Annual Employment Law Institute (ELI), Jared A. Jacobson Esq. of Jacobson & Rooks, LLC, presented alongside Joseph L. Gordon of Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, on the secret qui tam lawsuits that underlie employment claims.

In the presentation, the two Philadelphia workplace disability discrimination lawyers discussed the False Claims Act ("FCA") and associated qui tam claims, as well as what to do in the event of unlawful and illegal retaliation by the defendant employer.

The presentation began with a review of qui tam actions filed under the False Claims Act in 2017, in which the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") recovered over three billion dollars from such claims across 669 distinct lawsuits. Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Gordon then proceeded to stress the importance of employment attorneys having at least a basic understanding of the FCA as: (i) there is significant overlap between an individual initially seeking counsel for a wrongful termination claim, only to learn that they may also have the "nuclear option", a/k/a, a qui tam claim; and/or (ii) the illegal retaliation suffered by the current or former employee may be a consequence of the the individual speaking out against false claims against the government, which if true, avails the individual an independent retaliation claim.

While there is significant money to be made for an individual with personal knowledge of government fraud, including government contractors and their employees, independent contractors and current or former employees who are believed by the company to have reported a potential claim, the risk of doing so can have devastating consequences for the whistleblower if identified. For this reason, as well as the FCA requirement to have a whistleblower attorney as counsel of record, it is advisable that any individual, including a current and former employee interested in initiating a qui tam action, should first seek legal counsel, particularly counsel who has both whistleblower and employment law experience.

Under §3730(h) of the False Claims Act, employers must not retaliate or discriminate against the employee, contractor, or agent who initiated the case or those associated with him or her. If the employee suffers retaliatory actions, he or she is entitled to all necessary relief which includes: job reinstatement, two times the back pay plus interest, compensation for special damages resulting from the discriminatory actions, litigation costs, and attorney's fees. All of which can be recovered with the help of a trusted retaliatory termination attorney in Philadelphia.

Employees initiating claims of government fraud under the FCA, and those who have been the victim of discrimination and retaliation upon reporting a potential claim, should contact Jacobson & Rooks, LLC at 800-406-8013 today.

For more information on qui tam cases and the False Claims Act, visit www.JacobsonRooks.com/Whistleblower.

About Jacobson & Rooks, LLC
Jacobson & Rooks, LLC, handles many types of cases, including whistleblower and Qui Tam claims, as well as discrimination and other employment violations. The attorneys at Jacobson & Rooks, LLC focus on building a strong relationship with their clients and maintaining an open channel of communication with all parties.

To learn more about the law firm and the types of clients they represent, visit their website at http://www.jacobsonrooks.com/.