North Carolina False Claims Act – Whistleblower Protection
The North Carolina False Claims Act (NC FCA) gives whistleblowers important protections from workplace retaliation.
NC FCA allows those who uncover fraud against the state to bring a civil action on behalf of the state and share in any recovery. In addition to this monetary award, the Act also protects whistleblowers if their employer retaliates against them for bringing the fraud to light.
Whistleblowers may not be “discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment” for blowing the whistle. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-613. If they are, the whistleblower is entitled to “all relief necessary,” including “reinstatement . . . , two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.” Id.
There is also a federal False Claims Act that provides similar rewards and protections to whistleblowers who uncover fraud against our national government.
While these protections are crucial to protect whistleblowers, they must be brought within three years of the retaliation. Id.
If you have uncovered fraud against the government, contact the North Carolina whistleblower attorneys at Miller Law Group today for a free and confidential consultation. You can also set up a consultation by calling us at (919) 348-4361.
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