Whistleblower Protection Claims

Protecting Whistleblowers Against Retaliation

The term “whistleblower” was originally used to describe an individual who reported the illegal actions of a company or corporation that was defrauding the government. Over the years, however, the definition has expanded to identify anyone who reports corporate or business crimes that are being committed without the knowledge of the victim.

At the Bononi Law Group, LLP, in Los Angeles, California, we protect the employment rights of individuals who have disclosed wrongful conduct by their employers and been subject to retaliatory conduct, including demotions, harassment and termination. We represent victims of employment-based retaliation in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and Fresno counties.

A whistleblower may disclose financial fraud, health or environmental violations, or anything else that is illegal or against public policy. Representative whistleblower cases have included whistleblowers who have disclosed

• fraud in government purchasing and procurement
• toxic waste disposal in violation of environmental laws and regulations
• sexual harassment in the workplace
• misuse or abuse of company funds by directors and officers

In addition to employment retaliation, whistleblower often experience threats or acts of physical violence. Consequently, whistleblower’s activities are done in secret and whistleblowers are protected by state and federal law. To qualify for protection under “whistleblower protection laws,” a person need not report an activity that is in fact a violation of law or public policy. The employee must only reasonably believe that the activity being reported is in violation of the law or of public policy.

In addition, to obtain the protection of the whistleblower statutes, a disclosure must be made to someone outside of the company. The whistleblower statutes do not complaints made internally, though retaliatory conduct based on internal disclosures may be protected in other ways.

The attorneys at Bononi Law Group, LLP have extensive experience litigating on behalf of victims of whistleblower-related employment retaliation. They will work with you at any stage of a whistleblower action, whether you are only contemplating reporting illegal activity or if you have done so and been subjected to job-related retaliation. If you are considering reporting illegal activities by your employer, or have been subject to retaliation for disclosing illegal or improper activity by an employer, contact the Bononi Law Group, LLP for a consultation.