New York Securities Fraud Lawyers Blog
Keith Edwards, a former J.P. Morgan employee is due to receive a nearly $64 million payment from the U.S. government for the tips he provided as a whistleblower. Mr. Edwards provided information that led to a payment by J.P. Morgan to the government in the amount of $614 million stemming from insurance on home loans.
Allegedly, J.P. Morgan had been falsifying certifications for Federal Housing Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs loans, going back as far as 2002. As a result, the agencies reportedly suffered substantial losses.
It was reported that the $614 million was paid by J.P. Morgan to settle the charges levied against it as a result of Mr. Edwards’ tips. In settling, J.P. Morgan reportedly admitted to approving thousands of FHA and hundreds of VA loans that did not pass normal underwriting requirements.
Mr. Edwards was able to collect his reward under the False Claims Act. Under the False Claims Act, the government reportedly collected roughly $3.8 billion in 2013 alone – a big year for the Justice Department. Under this act, individuals can sue the target company directly. The government may elect to join the whistleblower in pursuit of the target company in court.
Whistleblowers can also benefit from a myriad of other whistleblower reward programs, including Dodd-Frank and Sarbanes-Oxley. Unlike the False Claims Act, whistleblowers under these acts will not bring suit against the target company directly. Rather, whistleblowers will simply provide the government with the “tip.” It is then up to the government to pursue the bad actor or not.
Nonetheless, whistleblowers under these acts can also reap large rewards for the information they provide. Under Dodd-Frank, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has paid over $14 million in rewards in the past two years alone. Under Dodd-Frank the SEC is looking for tips that will aid in the successful investigation of securities laws violations. In return, a whistleblower may be entitled to between 10% and 30% of all monies recovered.
Once you have made the decision to be a whistleblower, a major concern should be to make sure that you have maximized your potential to receive your reward. It is important to know how to present your “tip” to the appropriate government agency. A properly prepared and presented “tip” may increase the chances that the government pursues the case. Whistleblowers should also be aware of potential pitfalls that may compromise their ability to collect an award.
Like anything else, it is important to be diligent and protect your rights when making the decision to blow the whistle. This decision is often not an easy one and should be made carefully and diligently. You should speak with a knowledgeable attorney first to ensure that you are protected that maximize your chances at receiving an award for your information.
If you believe you may have valuable information and are thinking about blowing the whistle, contact an attorney at Malecki Law for a free consultation. The attorneys at Malecki Law have experience representing whistleblowers, and can help you file your whistleblower complaint with the appropriate agency to maximize your chances at getting the reward to which you may be entitled.