Vaccine whistleblower Brandy Vaughan, a former sales executive for the pharmaceutical company Merck and the founder of learntherisk.org, a website dedicated to educating people on the risks associated with vaccines, was found dead in her home beside her nine-year-old son on December 8. Let’s take those two data points together:  (1) in roughly 75% of cases, we were limited to awarding $5 million or less by statute, and (2) in most of our cases, it turned out that after analyzing the award factors, we awarded amounts in the top quarter of the range. A number of key whistleblower-related court decisions were also issued in 2020. We have learned a lot in the ten years of administering our whistleblower program. Over the past ten years, the whistleblower program has been a critical component of the Commission’s efforts to detect wrongdoing and protect investors and the marketplace, particularly where fraud is well-hidden or difficult to detect. Today’s recommendations will further strengthen our whistleblower program. for specific people … In addition to these major overarching stories of 2020, it was a big year for whistleblowers in a number of other ways. In our experience administering the whistleblower award program, unfortunately we found that a small number of applicants repeatedly filed award applications that were clearly frivolous. In the United States, whistleblower Rick Bright was an outspoken critic of the government’s response to the crisis. Copyright © 2020, Whistleblower Network News. On September 14, 2020, the SEC announced an award of more than $10 million to a whistleblower who provided information and assistance that the SEC noted were of crucial importance to a successful enforcement action. 2020-023 – Vitol Inc. Award Claims Due No Later than March 8, 2021 The Commodity Futures Trading Commission hereby gives notice that individuals may submit whistleblower award claims within 90 days from today’s date for the following matter: Finally, before I turn to our colleagues for their presentation, I want to note our appreciation to whistleblowers who, sometimes at great risk to their livelihood, report suspected securities laws violations to the SEC. Whistleblower Claims Federal Officials Were Stockpiling Weapons to Use Against Protesters in DC. From the Division of Enforcement and the Office of the Whistleblower:  Stephanie Avakian, Jane Norberg, Emily Pasquinelli, Jonathan Carr, Kerry Knowles, Lisa Wardlaw, and Nikkia Wharton. For example, a Compton police officer whistleblower, exposed the existence of a brutal gang within the Los Angeles Police Department, . How, then, could we take this information and use it to help us get money to these whistleblowers faster? Of particular relevance to our work at the Commission was United States v. O’Hagan, which upheld the misappropriation theory of insider trading and has served as a critical element of our securities law framework. Court Issues $69.6 Million Judgement in Qui Tam False Claims Act Whistleblower Case. For example, a November ruling by a D.C. District Court judge. Actors:Joe Rogan, John Holer, Phil Demers. , but it has also highlighted how much work needs to be done to ensure that whistleblowers are protected from retaliation and their disclosures are taken seriously. Again, in these cases, our review will presume that the whistleblower will get the maximum award allowed under the statute. Many market participants are familiar with the factors that we use when determining award amounts – for example, we look at the significance of information provided by the whistleblower, as well as the degree of assistance the whistleblower provided in the relevant action. The Ukraine whistleblower’s disclosure was made available to Congress and the public thanks to proactive steps taken by the whistleblower and by Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson to alert Congress of its existence, not because the law worked as intended. The $114 million award is more than double the amount of the second largest whistleblower award in SEC history. 5 Flickr 6LinkedIn 7 Pinterest 8 Email Updates. Our rules also recognize that whistleblowers are motivated by – and compensated by – dollar amounts, not percentages. I won’t go into all of them, but I encourage you to read my more detailed remarks, our fact sheet and the final rule, which will be posted on our website. From the Office of General Counsel:  Bob Stebbins, William (Brooks) Shirey, Michael Conley, Laura Jarsulic, Thomas Karr, Matthew Ferguson, Stephen Yoder, Bryant Morris, Connor Raso, and Cree Kelly. The film profiles Phil Demers, a former employee of Marineland who attempted to blow the whistle on allegedly inhumane treatment of animals at the institution. All Rights Reserved. The United States Senate has officially passed a resolution designating July 30, 2020, as “National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.”. Kondracki and Eilis Kirwan wrote the screenplay, which was inspired by the story of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska police officer who was recruited as a United Nations peacekeeper for DynCorp International in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1999. Oct 16, 2020. While at Hamilton, Geoff was awarded an Emerson Foundation Grant to conduct an independent summer research project on representations of place in ethnographic film. Support was strong across demographic lines and political affiliations, proving that Americans care about supporting and protecting people who are brave enough to stand up to fraud and corruption. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The Whistleblower is a 2010 Canadian-German-American biographical crime drama film directed by Larysa Kondracki and starring Rachel Weisz. Kothari, our Chief Economist and Director of the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis. We are also codifying and further extending the approach we have taken regarding compliance with TCR filing requirements. Check out the new Trailer for The Whistleblower starring Tang Wei! In November, President-Elect Joe Biden, named Dr. Our rules recognize that Congress gave the Commission the discretion to set the amount of awards according to prescribed factors, subject to a statutory minimum of 10 percent of monetary sanctions collected and a maximum of 30 percent. Whistleblowers have played a central role in other top news stories of 2020. In 2020, it seemed as though whistleblowers were in the news more than ever. Early on, whistleblowers in China, warned of the dangers of the virus before facing retaliation from government officials, whistleblower Rick Bright was an outspoken critic of the government’s response to the crisis. The amendments we are considering today began through a reflection on the history of the program and an evaluation of our progress to date, all through the lens of the responsibilities that Congress placed on us. The changes were multifaceted and include some changes that drew criticism from whistleblower advocates. Our review resulted in the amendments we are adopting today. 1 Twitter 2 Facebook 3RSS 4YouTube Chepurko v. e-biofuels, LLP, et al. The report found that OSHA needs to improve its handling of whistleblower complaints. On November 6, a D.C. District Court Judge issued a ruling on a key False Claims Act (FCA) whistleblower case that may have repercussions for years to come. Chepurko’s case developed into the largest environmental and securities fraud cases in Indiana history, was highlighted in the CBS television show “Whistleblower,” and resulted in successful fraud and securities prosecutions by the government. Geoff graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in Sociology and minors in French & Francophone Studies and Cinema & New Media Studies. We assessed our efforts and evaluated whether amendments were necessary or appropriate to further implement our directive from Congress. The FAST Act mandated that DOT approve and publish rules for their whistleblower program on or before July 6, 2016. Nonton Film The Walrus and the Whistleblower (2020) Sub Indo, Download Film Bioskop Sub Indo. Here are some of the top whistleblower stories of 2020: Geoff Schweller is a contributing editor with Whistleblower Network News and writes about breaking whistleblower news, SEC whistleblowers, IRS whistleblowers, and CFTC whistleblowers. Said simply, based on our experience, we can add more certainty around time and amount in the substantial majority of cases, enhancing the effectiveness of the program for the Commission and increasing incentives for whistleblowers, all with no meaningful countervailing cost. Similarly, today’s amendments also will improve efficiency by allowing for a summary disposition process for certain types of straightforward denials, such as failing to meet application deadlines or failing to specify the tip on which an award claim is based. By using this website, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Newspaper/Web Site publisher. This approach balances the agency’s administration of the program with ensuring we are not imposing unnecessary burdens on whistleblowers. On December 18, 2020, the SEC announced awards in excess of $3.6 million to whistleblowers in connection with three separate actions, including one $1.8 million-plus payment for providing information about a fraudulent scheme that resulted in the return of millions of dollars to harmed investors. Implemented in 2011, the SEC's whistleblower program has received more than 22,000 tips, secured over $2.5 billion in penalties and restitution, and awarded over $523 million to successful tipsters. Kathy Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), a Nebraskan police officer, takes a job as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Subscribe to receive breaking whistleblower updates. While there, she discovered a sex traffickingring serving (and facilitated by) DynCorp employees, with international peace… closed a key loophole in the False Claims Act. Transparency, efficiency and effectiveness are the goals that have been a priority for me during my time as Chairman. For example, we considered whether whistleblowers would benefit from additional guidance about what they should expect when submitting a tip and about issues that have arisen in the determination of eligibility and of award amounts. (2,199) IMDb 7.1 1 h 51 min 2011 X-Ray R. This ripped-from-the-headlines thriller is inspired by actual events. And the Commission retains its separate discretionary exemptive authorities to grant relief where appropriate. I also want to highlight a few additional areas that reflect the transparency, clarity and efficiency that we are implementing today. Court Rules In Favor Of Whistleblower, Closing Key Loophole In False Claims Act. Already this year, there have been no shortage of reminders that the greatest challenges of our time cannot be solved unless wrongdoing is called out and the truth exposed. For example, a November ruling by a D.C. District Court judge closed a key loophole in the False Claims Act. Amid nationwide protests against white supremacy and police brutality, police whistleblowers broke from the police “culture of silence” to, report on police brutality and other forms of misconduct, . This morning, we have two items on the agenda. The push for expanded whistleblower protections for Google employees continues to gain momentum. The Whistleblower. How Facebook let fake engagement distort global politics: a whistleblower's account. All Rights Reserved. In addition to providing greater transparency and certainty, this presumption will reduce the time the Commission would otherwise spend determining the precise award amounts. The Walrus and the Whistleblower Not Rated | 1h 28min | Documentary | 28 August 2020 (Canada) An animal trainer becomes an unlikely whistleblower and is sued for $1.5 million for plotting to steal a walrus, falling down the rabbit hole of a personal quest while a larger movement grows to end marine mammal captivity. For example, a September report from the U.S. Department of Labor found that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) needs to drastically improve its handling of whistleblower complaints, Whistleblowers have played a central role in other top news stories of 2020. The whistleblower also suffered what the SEC characterized as a “unique hardship” as a result of raising concerns internally. The Office of the General Counsel is also available to answer any questions. DHS Whistleblower Claims Top Officials Told Him to Change Intelligence Reports to Support White House Agenda. We also saw that the vast majority of whistleblower awards – roughly 75 percent – involved enforcement actions where we ordered $16.67 million or less in monetary sanctions. There is no separate (post application of the award factors) assessment of whether award amounts are too small or too large or any type of a cap apart from the statutory maximum established by Congress. Figure 1: whistleblower oFFice staFFing, Fiscal Years 2018 to 2020 The Allard Prize is awarded to those who fight against corruption and for the protection of human rights. Countless other COVID whistleblowers have risked their safety and livelihoods to expose COVID-related safety issues or mismanagement of COVID relief funds. This Newspaper/Web Site is made available by the publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. 11 His complaint prompted changes to the TSA’s safety protocols, and after meeting with TSA officials, Brainard felt satisfied that the changes would improve passenger safety. In particular, currently our rules do not provide any established mechanism to permit individuals who fail to comply with the TCR requirement to qualify for an award when they provide information to the Commission prior to filing a TCR, although we have allowed for a brief grace period for compliance. The Commission will continue to implement its responsibility to consider the applicable factors, and consistent with past and current practice, we expect that the majority of awards for which the statutory maximum aggregate award amount is $5 million or more and no negative factors are present will continue to be in the top third of the statutory award range. I would like to acknowledge a number of individuals who have contributed to this rulemaking and to the success of the whistleblower program. With Nick Rawbin, Christopher Anson, John Booth, Gianbruno Spena. On April 30, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt issued a $69.6 million judgment against the defendants in the high-profile qui tam False Claims Act case U.S. ex rel. For example, I have spoken many times on the importance of the proper allocation of resources, and the whistleblower program is an example of this priority. In June, a whistleblower from the Compton Station (CPT) of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department claimed that more than 20 of 100 active deputies are part of a violent and brutal police gang The Executioners. We are fortunate that the SEC’s whistleblower program has been such a success that our volume of tips increases each year, and we are focused on ensuring that whistleblowers continue to receive prompt award determinations. In FY 2020, the Whistleblower Oice staf was comprised of 43 full time employees with decades of experience in a broad array of IRS compliance programs. But, as was evident during the rulemaking process, there was public confusion about the Commission’s discretion in applying those factors. Please note Twitter’s warning that Hopkins’ video is “disputed.” ... Whistleblower comes forward with claim of systemic vote fraud. I look forward to your continued assistance in rooting out fraud and protecting investors and the marketplace. The COVID pandemic has reinforced how important whistleblowers are to society. And we evaluated whether there were improvements to be made that could increase the speed and efficiency of preliminary determinations and awards. CFTC Issues Whistleblower Award as Bill to Save Agency’s Whistleblower Program Awaits Congressional Action, Facebook Whistleblower Sophie Zhang Shares Her Story, Urgent Care Provider Settles Alleged Medical Fraud FCA Violations For $22.5 Million, SEC Whistleblowers Receive $50 Million Award – Second Largest in Program History, Gensler Confirmed as SEC Chair Following Pledge of Support to Whistleblower Program, Leading Whistleblower Attorney Calls for Congress to Enact Ethics Agenda, Exclusive Marist Poll: Overwhelming Public Support Among Likely Voters For Increased Whistleblower Protections. 2020 SENATE RESOLUTION. Thu 6 Feb 2020 15.36 EST First published on Thu 6 Feb 2020 10.55 EST A whistleblowing Chinese doctor who tried to raise the alarm about the coronavirus outbreak … Copyright © 2021, Whistleblower Network News. "The whistleblower is a disgrace to our country. The results showed that an overwhelming majority of Americans support increased protections for corporate and federal whistleblowers. Trillium Asset Management, a major shareholder in Alphabet, Google’s parent company, recently filed a shareholder resolution outlining the importance of strong whistleblower protections. The evaluation will remain unchanged. We are adopting several other amendments that are intended to clarify and enhance certain policies, practices, and procedures in implementing the program and to increase the efficiency of the claims review process. Loon, Michael Schihl, Andrew Glickman and Morgan Williams. have risked their safety and livelihoods to expose COVID-related safety issues or mismanagement of COVID relief funds. This WNN Exclusive revealed that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is in violation of a mandatory Congressional requirement to enact rules to protect auto safety whistleblowers. Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled in the case of United States ex rel. Early on, whistleblowers in China warned of the dangers of the virus before facing retaliation from government officials. The results showed that an overwhelming majority of Americans support increased protections for corporate and federal whistleblowers. A record-breaking year during Fiscal Year 2020, in which the number of awards issued to whistleblowers was tripled and the SEC received a record number of whistleblower tips. Numbers never tell the whole story, but here they are a clear and loud voice for our commitment to Congress’s direction to implement a robust and effective whistleblower program. But what about cases where the maximum possible statutory award is greater than $5 million? The whistleblower claimed in a sworn testimony that officials considered using weapons that had previously been deemed too dangerous for use in war zones. Department of Labor Report Finds OSHA Must Improve Handling of Whistleblower Complaints. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Security Director Jay Brainard filed a whistleblower complaint in June of 2020, alleging that the TSA had failed to take proper COVID-19 safety precautions. To provide maximum clarity to whistleblowers, the waiver is automatic where the criteria specified in the rule are satisfied. On June 5, 2020, the Commission issued an order for an award of more than $6 million to a whistleblower who voluntarily provided original information that led the CFTC to bring a successful enforcement action. A number of key whistleblower-related court decisions were also issued in 2020. The world is facing the combined threats of a global pandemic, global heating, and deep structural inequalities made worse by … Today’s amendments build upon the strong foundation to date and make the program even stronger. Support was strong across demographic lines and political affiliations, proving that Americans care about supporting and protecting people who are brave enough to stand up to fraud and corruption. Processing those frivolous applications took up significant staff resources that otherwise could have been spent working to get money to meritorious whistleblowers. And the whistleblower, because of that, should be revealed," Trump said to reporters last fall, adding that the whistleblower's attorney should be sued "for treason". Police Whistleblower Joins Compton Mayor In Claiming Existence Of Brutal Gang In Los Angeles Police Department. For example, a September report from the U.S. Department of Labor found that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) needs to drastically improve its handling of whistleblower complaints. Updated 6:23 PM ET, Fri October 23, 2020 The SEC fiercely protects the identifies of whistleblowers, which means we may never know who received the … The Commission has just approved a set of amendments to the whistleblower program. A whistleblower complaint filed on September 14 alleged widespread medical neglect at an ICE detention center in Ocilla, Georgia. Given the award range set by Congress, that meant that our awards in those 75 percent of cases were statutorily limited to $5 million or less. Since I joined the Commission in May 2017, we have awarded approximately $368 million to eligible whistleblowers, including the five largest awards in the program’s history – two awards at approximately $50 million each, and one each at $39 million, $37 million, and $33 million. Whistleblower Network News is an independent online newspaper providing our readers with up-to-date information on whistleblowing. The award was issued to a whistleblower whose information and assistance led to the SEC’s successful enforcement action and successful related actions by other agencies. Enforcement actions from whistleblower tips have resulted in more than $2.5 billion in ordered financial remedies, including more than $1.4 billion in disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and interest, of which almost $750 million has been, or is scheduled to be, returned to harmed investors. Whistleblowers are more important to Americans now than ever before, as evidenced by. whistleblower programs. Our goal is to be the best source of information on important qui tam, anti-corruption, compliance, and whistleblower law developments. The 2020 fiscal year was a record year for both the. Bright to his COVID-19 task force, Whistleblower Alleges Widespread Medical Neglect at ICE Facility, Including an Alarming Rate of Hysterectomies on Immigrant Women. Working together, we have stopped frauds and prevented losses for countless investors. In one case, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official blew the whistle on officials in the DHS pressuring analysts to change intelligence reports to align with the White House’s agenda. as a co-winner of its 2020 Prize. . A number of key whistleblower-related court decisions were also issued in 2020. Notice of Covered Action No. An exclusive Treasury Department whistleblower outline in the Ohio Star is almost an absolute match to our research {Go Deep} on how President Obama constructed the political surveillance network during his second term. On October 22, the SEC announced a whistleblower award of over $114 million. In 2020, it seemed as though whistleblowers were in the news more than ever. WNN Exclusive: Transportation Department Violates Congressional Requirement To Protect Auto Safety Whistleblowers. In one case, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official blew the whistle on officials in the DHS, pressuring analysts to change intelligence reports to align with the White House’s agenda, In addition to these major overarching stories of 2020, it was a big year for whistleblowers in a number of other ways. However, the rule change was mostly seen as a win for whistleblowers because the SEC did not approve proposals that would automatically reduce the largest whistleblower awards and modified a proposal that would have set strict requirements that could have disqualified countless whistleblowers who failed to file a mandatory form. 2020, Documentary, 1h 28m. For example, a Compton police officer whistleblower exposed the existence of a brutal gang within the Los Angeles Police Department. The efforts undertaken by the Office of the Whistleblower to streamline and substantially accelerate the evaluation of claims for whistleblower awards have already yielded positive results in Fiscal Year 2020, with – as I mentioned –more claims reviewed so far this fiscal year than any previous year. Wilkinson blew the whistle on the largest money laundering scheme in history, worth at least $230 billion, while acting as the head of Danske Bank’s trading unit in the Baltics. As of July 31, 2020, of the 74 enforcement actions where whistleblowers were awarded, 31 were at the statutory maximum, with another 16 in the top quarter of the statutory range. Qui Tam, Compliance and Anti-Corruption News. A disgrace. Film dokumenter ini mengikuti pertarungan hukum antara Phil Demers dan Marineland, dan mengungkap pelecehan hewan di taman hiburan. At today’s meeting, we are considering amendments to the rules governing the Commission’s whistleblower program. Nurse whistleblower Dawn Wooten and several detained immigrant women alleged that the facility grossly disregarded COVID-19 health and protocols and that immigrant women were subjected to forced hysterectomies. They will enhance the Commission’s ability to make awards that will provide incentives for whistleblowers to come forward. In October, the SEC issued a $114 million whistleblower award – the largest in program history. The recommendations also provide additional transparency into our award determination process – including by codifying current practices – and add additional process efficiencies that will help us get more money into the hands of whistleblowers faster. The COVID-19 pandemic was, of course, the year’s biggest news story, and whistleblowers played an important role throughout its development. The Walrus and the Whistleblower. On June 25, the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice announced Novartis AG, a global pharmaceutical and healthcare company based in Switzerland, agreed to pay over $300 million in sanctions to resolve FCPA charges for bribery in Greece. Published date grouping: August 2020 Date: Aug. 31, 2020: Title: SEC Awards Over $1.25 Million to Whistleblower: Release No. They are also intended to reduce the chance of an individual being disqualified from receiving an award simply because of a lack of knowledge of our filing requirements. The dedication of the staff to this improvement is commendable. Whistleblower, as it happens, is debuting as the 20th anniversary of Erin Brockovich approaches. On August 14, the Department of Labor released a report detailing how the combination of staffing shortages within OSHA’s whistleblower protection program and a rise in whistleblower complaints due to the coronavirus pandemic has the potential to severely hinder the agency’s ability to investigate claims in a timely manner. ( IMDB) Genre:Documentary. From the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis:  S.P. 7 Reviews Fewer than 50 Ratings You might also like. All you need to do is look at our award descriptions and you will see the majority of them described by their dollar amounts (e.g., a $50 million award, or a $39 million award). Amid nationwide protests against white supremacy and police brutality, police whistleblowers broke from the police “culture of silence” to report on police brutality and other forms of misconduct. The COVID-19 pandemic was, of course, the year’s biggest news story, and whistleblowers played an important role throughout its development. “The Whistleblower Summit is the largest gathering of whistleblowers and the only festival dedicated to honoring whistleblowers and first amendment activism.” BEST FESTIVAL AWARD 2019 “The conference for the power players in the festival game” - Forbes Magazine Good morning. In October, the former head of Intelligence and Analysis for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed a whistleblower complaint, alleging that senior officials at DHS are asking analysts to alter intelligence reports to support political goals. The amendments we are adopting today recognize the responsibility that Congress gave us to determine the amount of awards, subject to the statutory minimum and maximum. In its announcement, the SEC emphasized this whistleblower’s “persistent efforts…to expose serious financial misconduct,” and “extensive and ongoing assistance to … We have also focused on processing claims faster – in fiscal year 2020, even with the impact of COVID-19, we have already processed more claims than we have in any prior year, which means we have been able to issue more awards. The networks were not prioritized and were left in place until August 2020… The Walrus and the Whistleblower is a 2020 Canadian documentary film directed by Nathalie Bibeau. COVID-19 Whistleblower Dr. Rick Bright Has Resigned, In October, whistleblower Dr. Rick Bright, who worked for the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health resigned after facing retaliation for being an outspoken critic of the administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we looked back on the history of the program, we saw that the Commission historically has awarded the majority of whistleblowers amounts in the top quarter of the statutory award range. Our whistleblower program has been a success because of their efforts. Scollick v. Narula that a controversial “materiality requirement,” used mostly by companies trying to escape allegations of submitting false claims to the government, does not apply to the defendants in the case. STAY CONNECTED Let me provide one example, which is an amendment that is designed to speed up the award process and get more money to whistleblowers faster. Again, these amendments are intended to allow the Commission to allocate resources where they will most effectively advance the objectives of the whistleblower program – to ensuring the efficient processing of awards to meritorious whistleblowers.
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