A whistleblower at EMH Elyria Medical Center has helped the U.S. Justice Department uncover a case in which a hospital and group of doctors is alleged to have billed Medicare for unnecessary procedures. Attorney Tom Robenalt of Mellino Robenalt LLC recently assisted in a Qui Tam action, the settlement for which was also reported by The Plain Dealer. The lawsuit against theLorianCounty hospital and a group ofNortheast Ohio cardiologists working at the center resulted in a $4.4 million settlement paid to the federal government. According to the lawsuit, the hospital and doctors were alleged to have billed Medicare for unnecessary [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam

This lawsuit had its beginnings as a wrongful termination lawsuit, but portions of it were related to Whistleblower’s law. “This is an interesting case (Ott v. Fred Alger Management Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 11-04418) for a variety of reasons, but what we want to look at is the whistleblower aspect,” explained Tom Robenalt, a Cleveland whistleblower attorney. The former portfolio manager filed a claim stating she was fired in retaliation for protesting the money manager’s trading policies, which benefited co-workers at her expense, or acted to sabotage her earnings. This lawsuit is one [...]

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Tags: Cleveland malpractice lawyer, Cleveland medical malpractice, Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer

There is something to be said for the whistleblowers of the world. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they may catch hell from both sides. This is an interesting story involving a deputy jailer, who feels he was retaliated against for conducting an investigation into alleged corruption at a county detention center. Some of his findings, which appeared in his report, included the discovery that contraband smuggling was almost a way of life in the facility, and that there was a deputy having intimate relations with an inmate. This particular case happened in Kentucky, but it could easily happen in any [...]

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Tags: Cleveland malpractice lawyer, Cleveland medical malpractice, Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer, Cleveland whistleblower lawyer, Medicare overbilling, Ohio whistleblower attorney, scheme, tax evasion, wrong codes

Speak with a Cleveland whistleblower attorney if you plan to file a lawsuit under the False Claims Act. A lawyer can provide guidance when determining if you have a valid claim and what you can expect to happen. An attorney also may be able to provide an estimate of the compensation to which you could be entitled. In the state of Ohio, whistleblower laws require that no retaliatory or disciplinary measures be taken against you if you expose certain types of fraud. That means you can’t be fired, demoted, transferred, lose benefits or have your wages withheld. However, the law [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam

Consulting a Cleveland whistleblower attorney should be your next step if you believe that an individual or entity is engaging in fraud. In such cases, you may be able to file a lawsuit under the False Claims Act. There are various types of fraud, including: federal government contractor fraud (delivery of goods and services); education fraud (accreditation, for-profit colleges); fraudulent loans and grants (conflict of interest, improper use of monies); securities fraud (Securities Exchange Commission); defense contractor fraud (over-billing, defective parts); pharmaceutical fraud (non-FDA approved uses, illegal marketing); and Medicaid/Medicare fraud (kickbacks, charging high rates, false diagnoses). Exposing the wrongdoings [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam

Contact a Cleveland whistleblower attorney to learn if you are entitled to file a lawsuit under the False Claims Act. You may be entitled to compensation if your claim uncovers fraudulent activity against the government. Understanding the False Claims Act The idea of blowing the whistle can sound intimidating. You may worry about retaliation or wonder if you can even file a suit if you weren’t personally impacted by the fraud. Wrongdoing that defrauds the government may take away resources from those who really need them. It also can cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Whether it is a city or [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam

Are you thinking about becoming a whistleblower? If you are, this could prove a step in the right direction. Whistleblowers have recovered $14 billion for corporations and government entities. Without these brave and honest people in the country, we might have many more people committing fraud, and everyone would suffer. Types of Fraud Whistleblowers Expose When illegal activity occurs in a corporation where you work, you may feel like you should say something. However, you may be scared of losing your job, or of hurting your chances to get a raise or promotion. The good news is that when a [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam

One of the biggest types of fraud against the U.S. Federal Government is Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud is a serious crime that costs taxpayers an estimated $60 billion each year, with many experts claiming the real total could be twice that amount. Although it is mostly fraudulent medical supply companies, pharmacies, and clinics involved in these schemes, drug dealers, auto mechanics, and clerks may be involved as well. If you become aware of any type of Medicare fraud, you have the right to file a Medicare whistleblow lawsuit in Cleveland, Ohio without retaliation. In order to protect your legal rights [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam

Medicare fraud is responsible for costing the U.S. Federal Government $60 million a year, and the cost is rising. Criminals are finding new ways to scam the Medicare system every day, which makes it difficult to stop. Understanding how most scammers get away with Medicare fraud can help you determine if you should make a claim. Many scammers learn names and addresses of real Medicare consumers and bill them for tests and procedures that were never performed or for supplies that were never ordered. This is called phantom billing, and many consumers are unaware it has even happened until they [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam

When you believe fraudulent activities are taking place within the healthcare system, you may have the right to compensation through a qui tam lawsuit. To learn if you have a valid claim, seek legal counsel. In the meantime, the following are steps taken in a healthcare qui tam lawsuit:  fraud is discovered or revealed; fraud discoverer begins to gather documents; consideration of discussing discovery with the employer because there may be a reasonable explanation; information is kept confidential and a lawyer is contacted; lawyer will determine if case is legitimate and worth pursuing; complaint and disclosure statement is prepared; government [...]

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Tags: Whistleblower - Qui Tam