Author Archives: Jay Butchko
CARES Act Fraud – the Paycheck Protection Program
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act of 2020, also known as the CARES Act. In total, the CARES Act will provide approximately $2 trillion in economic aid in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID19). This is the largest economic aid package in the history of the… Read More »
What is a Qui Tam Seal?
Cases filed under the False Claims Act, also known as qui tam cases, are filed under seal. When a case is filed under seal, this means the Court enters an order that requires the Clerk of Court to keep the case secret. Unlike most court records, which are open to the public, a sealed… Read More »
Do I Have a Qui Tam Case?
Our firm gets many calls every week from people claiming that they have a qui tam (or whistleblower) claim against a certain company or individual for committing fraud against the government. While many of the situations are legitimately concerning, not all of them rise to the level of a qui tam claim under the… Read More »
Before You Invest
You’ve worked hard for your savings. Before you entrust it to someone to invest, take the time to do your homework. Even if you have been investing for many years, every investment deserves scrutiny. Check out the players Just because a broker or investment adviser is charming and friendly doesn’t mean he or she… Read More »
What is a Shareholder’s Agreement and Do I Need One?
We’ve previously written about the value of having an operating agreement governing the operations and management of LLCs. For instance, an operating agreement setting forth the role of each LLC member and creating dispute resolution mechanisms can often help to resolve future disputes. Not every business is an LLC, however. Under Florida’s Business Corporations… Read More »
Can a Qui Tam Whistleblower Remain Anonymous?
Whistleblowers often risk losing their jobs, getting demoted, or damaging their professional reputations when reporting that a company or person has committed fraud against the government. In some situations, whistleblowers may even risk their safety. As a result of these risks, many potential whistleblowers want to know whether their identities will remain anonymous after… Read More »
Improvements to the IRS Whistleblower Program Signed Into Law
On July 1, 2019, President Trump signed into law the Taxpayer First Act, which was an effort by Congress to “redesign” the Internal Revenue Service. According to the IRS, the law aims to “strengthen taxpayer rights” and requires the agency to “develop a comprehensive customer service strategy.” Among other changes, the Taxpayer First Act… Read More »
The New Face of the Florida Business Corporation Act
After about 30 years, Florida’s corporation laws are finally getting a facelift. The recent overhaul of the Florida Business Corporation Act, Chapter 607, Florida Statutes, (“FBCA”) seeks to fix issues regarding the existing corporate statute’s effect on litigation, to bring the FBCA more in line with the Model Business Corporation Act, and to make… Read More »
My Boss is Committing Fraud. What Now?
Many employees wake up one day to find themselves in a terrible situation: their boss is committing fraud in the workplace. This poses a serious dilemma of what to do next. Confront the boss? Report the boss to management? Report the fraud to the government? Do nothing? The answer, of course, is “it all… Read More »
What is Genetic Testing Fraud?
Cancer genomic testing, also known as CGX testing, is a type of laboratory test that uses DNA sequencing to detect gene mutations that could indicate a higher risk cancer. In essence, this is a cancer screening test. Medicare covers CGX testing in very limited circumstances. CGX testing is very expensive, with the government paying… Read More »