New Jersey Whistleblower Lawyer

Do you want to report a possible investment scheme or other securities violation to the SEC? Consult with an experienced New Jersey whistleblower attorney for help claiming the financial reward you deserve.

The burden of having information about fraud within your company can be too much for even the strongest person to handle. The scheme not only affects you, but your investors and the company’s wellbeing as a whole. Add the concern of retaliation if you do report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and every day can feel like a struggle while you determine what you should do.

Here’s one thing you can do to ease the stress right now: Reach out to a knowledgeable New Jersey whistleblower lawyer at Meissner Associates. We can ease your fears and put you on the path to winning an award for doing the right thing and reporting your tip.

Instances of Securities Fraud

Being aware of securities violations or understanding what an investment scheme looks like isn’t always easy. Even the most experienced investors or financial industry workers can fall victim to a fraudster. Some kinds of securities violations in New Jersey are much more common than you might think. Some of the most frequently seen violations are as follows:

Soon after you have the opportunity to report a possible scheme, you’ll need to act on it if you hope to win an award. It’s likely that you aren’t the only one with insider information, and only those who report first will become eligible for an award.

Eligibility Requirements for a Whistleblower Award

Qualifying for a whistleblower award in New Jersey is no easy feat. You’ll need to meet certain criteria based on the SEC whistleblower program guidelines in order to be eligible. To begin, the information you give needs to be voluntary. What this means is that you need to report before the SEC investigators have a chance to question you regarding a violation of securities laws.

Your tip also needs to have come from an original source. Although the rumor mill at work could be considered original, you need to be sure to act by reporting before someone else jumps on the opportunity. In addition, the information you have needs to have been obtained through a source that the public does not have access to, which means social media and news reports are excluded.

One of the most important criteria to meet is the SEC being able to enforce actionable sanctions against the violating company or individual. Supporting information, such as names, dates, and documents, will help demonstrate that, without the tip you provided, the SEC wouldn’t have been able to take action to put a stop to the fraud.

You can be awarded anywhere from 10 to 30 percent of the sanctions recovered—so long as the SEC can recover a minimum of $1,000,000 in sanctions. Even if all of the above requirements are met, you will not be able to win an award unless the SEC can impose sanctions at this threshold.

Based on just the information you have, it’s hard to say whether you’ll be able to meet the SEC’s robust eligibility requirements. But a capable New Jersey SEC whistleblower lawyer will have the experience and knowledge necessary to tell you what you can expect to come from reporting your tip.

Face Your Fear of Retaliation

On many occasions, potential whistleblowers hold back on reporting to the SEC because they are afraid that their employers will retaliate against them.

Too many employers fail to realize that retaliation is against the law. The Dodd-Frank Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act both contain specific protections for whistleblowers from retaliation by their employers. Harassment, slander, termination, demotion, and even a hostile workplace are all considered retaliation.

If your employer chooses to retaliate against you after you blow the whistle in New Jersey, you may be able to file a wrongful termination suit. If successful, you can gain access to your lost wages, be reinstated, and even be awarded punitive damages. The SEC may also take action for retaliation by fining the company and imposing other sanctions to prohibit it from further similar behaviors.

Whether you’re concerned that your employer will retaliate against you or you’ve already become the victim of retaliation after blowing the whistle, a whistleblower lawyer in New Jersey can help you.

Meet with a New Jersey Whistleblower Attorney

Don’t let yourself be held back by worries about retaliation, and don’t put your potential reward at risk. Contact a qualified New Jersey whistleblower lawyer at Meissner Associates for help getting on the path to the financial award you deserve. Schedule your no-obligation case assessment today by filling out the secure contact form at the bottom of this page, or simply call our office at 1-866-764-3100.