Rules for Whistleblowers - Stephen M. Kohn, Esq

The Rules for Whistleblowers

A Handbook for Doing What’s Right

  • Protect Yourself – Complete with “Practice Tips” at the end of each chapter, this book provides you with an overview of the strongest laws and case precedent that you can use to defend yourself against corporate crooks.
  • Obtain Whistleblower Rewards – Don’t let a missed deadline stand between you and a multi-million-dollar reward. Rules for Whistleblowers will walk you through the exact steps needed in order to qualify for a financial reward.
  • Use Your Rights – Is it legal to tape your employer? Can you take confidential documents from your office? What if the company offers to provide me with a lawyer? This book will answer the trickiest questions surrounding whistleblowing.

Print Length

440 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Lyons Press

Publish Date

June 1, 2023

Reviews for Experts

“[A] comprehensive account of the history, development and current status of whistleblower reward programmes in the United States.”

The Role of Financial Rewards for Whistleblowers in the Fight Against Economic Crime

Eliza Lockhart, Centre for Finance and Security at the Royal United Services Institute, United Kingdom

Summary of Chapters

Learn about America’s first whistleblowers and why the Continental Congress voted in favor of the world’s first whistleblower law.

Learn how whistleblowing has undergone revolutionary changes in the past 15 years, permitting anonymous and confidential reporting while paying out over 10 billion dollars in financial rewards.

Learn the technical rules for submitting anonymous and confidential complaints essential in protecting you from retaliation.

Since 1986, the United States has enacted whistleblower reward laws for foreign corruption, money laundering, government contracting fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, and more. Learn how you can qualify for multimillion dollar awards under these laws.

Even if you participated in an underlying violation, you can still obtain whistleblower coverage. Learn how.

There are five major traps that result in whistleblowers having their careers destroyed, being disqualified from protection, and losing their rights to obtain rewards. Learn what the traps are and how to navigate around them.

Whistleblower reward laws apply transnationally. Learn how non-U.S. citizens can obtain rewards, and how Americans can blow the whistle on violations that occur overseas.

When whistleblowers make disclosures, they open themselves up to potential retaliation. Learn how to mitigate those risks and enhance your ability to prevail in a case.

Lawfully obtaining documents in support of your case is often the difference between winning and losing. Learn how.

A majority of states permit whistleblowers to engage in “one party taping”. Should you do it?

Most corporations have internal complaint “hotlines” controlled by the company. Should you use them?

Company lawyers work for the company, not for you. Learn how to navigate this risk.

This rule explains the benefits of maintaining complete confidentiality throughout the entire whistleblower process.

If the company hires you to detect fraud or misconduct, can you still blow the whistle? Better yet, can you qualify for a reward? Learn how it can be done.

If you signed a non-disclosure agreement, then learn how you can still blow the whistle. For all you know, the NDA may constitute an obstruction of justice. 

Should a whistleblower go to the press? Learn the costs and benefits.

Safety, compliance, and environmental protection costs money. Learn how the modern whistleblower laws cover issues such as ESG, environmental practices, and other areas of public interest.

The False Claims Act Amendments of 1986 provide strong protections and a right to generous rewards. Learn who’s covered and how to use the law.

The Internal Revenue Service whistleblower law covers all tax evasion, under payment of taxes, and matters within the investigatory jurisdiction of the commission. Learn how this law has already paid whistleblowers millions of dollars.

Dodd Frank is the gold standard, state of the art whistleblower protection and reward law. It has the best confidentiality and anonymity provisions. Learn how to use it.

Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Commodity Exchange Act, whistleblowers can now obtain monetary rewards regardless of citizenship, and regardless of the country in which the corruption occurred. Don’t lose your rights because you think the crimes were committed outside of America’s jurisdiction.

As of December 2022, money laundering reports can be done anonymously and confidentially. The law is extremely broad, covering money laundering, violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, and violations of all U.S. sanctions requirements. Learn how to report under it.

Learn how to confidentially and anonymously blow the whistle on motor vehicle defects and safety violations.

Learn how the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships has transnational jurisdiction and international application for pollution on the high seas, regardless of where a ship is flagged or what the nationality of the whistleblower is.

The wildlife protection laws have some of the oldest whistleblower reward provisions. Learn how they, although weak, can be used to report wildlife crime.

The major whistleblower laws permit related action payments. Learn how you can obtain rewards based on enforcement actions undertaken by agencies that are not covered under a specific whistleblower law.

United States whistleblower laws were enacted on a scandal-by-scandal basis. It’s critical that you figure out which law best protects you.

Most states protect whistleblowers with their own local versions of the False Claims Act, permitting rewards when reporting fraud against state local governments. Read up on your state here. 

State and local employees can obtain protection under an 1871 Reconstruction-era Civil Raw law. Learn how.

Most federal employees are covered under a special whistleblower law known as the Whistleblower Protection Act. It’s highly technical, and has been criticized, but it’s the best bet for protection offered to federal workers.

Employees who work in national security and intelligence agencies confront major issues whenever they want to report wrongdoing, but there are laws that protect them. Read their stories, and learn the laws, here. 

In order to prevail in a retaliation case, there are specific elements that must be proven. Make sure, you can make sure you can meet every one.

Whistleblower laws can contain specific definitions for a protected disclosure. Make sure your disclosures are covered.

You can’t win a whistleblower retaliation case unless you engage in discovery. Do you know what discovery is?

The heart of a whistleblower retaliation case is proving motive and pretext. Here’s the overview.

Never forget why you blew the whistle, and the importance of telling a jury that you held the wrongdoers accountable.

Get every penny you deserve. When you win a retaliation case, there’s much more to be gained than just reinstatement and back pay.

Almost every retaliation law requires your bosses to pay your attorney fees if you prevail. Learn how.

Whistleblowing is now the most effective means for detecting corporate corruption and holding white collar criminals accountable. Learn why this is, and why whistleblowers are the most essential soldiers in the war against corruption.

Whistleblower Law Library

Get FREE Access to This Companion Resource

Rules for Whistleblowers - 3 Ways to Order

Order Your Copy Today!

All purchases or donations proceeds go to support the National Whistleblower Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting whistleblowers.

What’s Inside

This books covers all federal and state laws regarding whistleblowing, including protections, rewards, and procedures for whistleblowing.

Stephen Kohn

Meet the Author

Stephen M. Kohn is considered the world’s leading authority on international whistleblower law, and behind some of todays modern whistleblower rules.

Introduction: The Revolutionary Roots of Modern Whistleblowing

Law Library

The Law Library is a free companion to the Rules for Whistleblowers, complete with relevant whistleblower cases and important links and resources.

Stephen Kohn

Speaking Engagement

Stephen Kohn enjoys speaking to universities of all sizes, students and professionals, the media, general public, and government officials.

Shipping is to the United States Only

For international orders, please contact [email protected].