Lockheed Whistleblower Takes His Case To YouTube
September 15, 2006 by bob
via The Washington Post:
Michael De Kort was frustrated.
The 41-year-old Lockheed Martin engineer had complained to his bosses. He had told his story to government investigators. He had called congressmen.
But when no one seemed to be stepping up to correct what he saw as critical security flaws in a fleet of refurbished Coast Guard patrol boats, De Kort did just about the only thing left he could think of to get action: He made a video and posted it on YouTube.com.
[article continues below video]
“What I am going to tell you is going to seem preposterous,” De Kort solemnly tells viewers near the outset of the 10-minute clip. Posted three weeks ago, the video describes what De Kort says are blind spots in the ship’s security cameras, equipment that malfunctions in cold weather and other problems. “It may be very hard for you to believe that our government and the largest defense contractor in the world [are] capable of such alarming incompetence and can make ethical compromises as glaring as what I am going to describe.” In response to De Kort’s charges, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said the service has “taken the appropriate level of action.” A spokeswoman for the contractors said the allegations were without merit.
A Whistleblower With Courage
April 13, 2006 by bob
A man contacted us about 20 years ago with a moral dilemma. His employer was engaged in a bait and switch scheme and had asked him to lie to the customer. He refused to do this and sued his employer after he was fired. A jury was outraged and returned a verdict in his favor of well over 1 million dollars including punitive damages.
Whistleblowers are usually in a tight spot but they are the moral compass of society. If you are aware that your employer is committing government fraud, you can do the right thing and contact us. We will help you. We will be confidential and can see you through this.
We Taught Our Children…
March 20, 2006 by bob
If this life lesson has any meaning in a values-centered society, it means nothing less than we as citizens must hold companies that steal accountable for theft from our government.
You know, when companies are stealing from our government they are stealing from you. Companies steal by making false claims as government contractors, false Medicare and Medicaid claims and many other government benefit programs false claims.
We taught our kids that there are consequences that follow from stealing.
You may be talking to yourself and saying, “How can I blow the whistle? I am just a pebble on the beach. My employer and this overwhelming power of corporations can crush me like a bug. Oh, I just better go hide in the corner, keep my mouth shut and be a loyal soldier.†You know, you can be that person, or you can be a hero. You can be someone that goes along with fraud because you are afraid for your job, your family and your security. Or, instead you can be the kind of a person that we have represented over that last 30 years that says “NO – I’ve had – this is wrong and by my silence I am part of this fraud and cover-up.â€Â
If you are reading this you may be having a crisis of conscience. I would urge you to call me and do the right thing. We can protect you, but most importantly, you can protect your good name.
I am proud to be a Founding Member of the Qui Tam Consortium, a select group of experienced trial lawyers that have fought the powerful companies of this country over the last 30 years and brought about positive changes in corporate behavior, product safety and government program honesty and security.
If you are wondering what the right thing to do is, we need to talk. You have only one good name.
GlaxoSmithKline pays $150 million in Medicare fraud case
September 20, 2005 by bob
GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay more than $150 million to settle fraud allegations over the pricing of two anti-nausea drugs for federal health programs, the Justice Department said Tuesday.
James Moorman, president of the advocacy group Taxpayers Against Fraud, said whistle-blower claims have so far resulted in $2.4 billion in settlements with drug companies.
