Page 132 - Cityview_Jan_Feb_2014

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE

by bruce fox

Dare to be a Whistleblower

Though it may seem daunting to confront a company that is defrauding you, whistleblower

laws are designed to help and reward private individuals who step up to expose fraud.

W
hen richard West ing. upon comparing his records with cialized in whistleblower cases. Together,

received a notice from the what the government claimed, he found West and his attorney uncovered one of
government that it was stop- discrepancies with what his provider, the largest defraudings of a government

ping his Medicaid benefits Maxim Healthcare, was reporting to the program in history. operating across
for the month because he state of New Jersey.
several states, Maxim had over the years

had exceeded the cap, he wondered how Despite initial resistance from every- bilked taxpayers out of more than $61
that was possible. A Vietnam veteran one he talked to in government, most of million. As a penalty, the company had to

with muscular dystrophy that kept him whom thought West a crank, he pursued pay a fine of $150 million, $14.8 million of
confined to a wheelchair, West recorded his findings before at last making head- it a reward to West for bringing the fraud

spreadsheets of the care he was receiv-
way when he met with a lawyer who spe-
to the government’s attention.

130 cityviewmag.com january february 2014