Oklahoma City, OK employment attorney Michael Burrage discusses his experience in handling whistleblower cases. Some cases involve situations where a company or individual has defrauded the government or a governmental entity out of money through fraudulent schemes. These types of cases have been handled for many years, and the firm currently has cases in progress, including one involving a drug manufacturer that overcharged for drugs and misrepresented their effects. Other cases in the medical field involve kickbacks paid to doctors, which are not in the form of cash but disguised through schemes such as renting office space at inflated prices.

There are various fraudulent schemes, including illegal or improper charges by cable companies. These schemes are designed to defraud the government or unlawfully obtain money from it. In these cases, the whistleblower is referred to as the relator, and the case is initially filed under seal. The government has the option to participate or not. If the government chooses to participate, they become involved in the case. If they do not, the relator moves forward with the case independently.

If a recovery occurs, the relator receives a percentage of it. The firm represents the relator and collects a fee based on the percentage they receive. These cases are time-consuming and extremely complex, but they can lead to positive outcomes for individuals who are willing to come forward and expose fraudulent practices by companies.