Media Coverage
September 11, 2017
Reuters reported on a victory for TELG whistleblower client Mary Kaye Welch: A federal appeals panel ruled that her former employer can't force her fraud lawsuit—which she had filed on behalf of U.S. taxpayers—into private arbitration based on the boilerplate text of her hiring agreement. In a 3-0 decision the judges said the language of Ms. Welch's hiring agreement doesn't cover this dispute, allowing her case to resume in a lower court.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) quoted TELG's Scott Oswald in its online coverage of a high-profile lawsuit against Bass Pro Outdoor World, which agreed to pay $10.5 million to settle an EEOC complaint that it discriminated against Black and Hispanic job applicants.
August 09, 2017
1A, a talk show heard nationally on National Public Radio, invited TELG's Dave Scher to participate in its recent one-hour segment on the limits — and consequences — of free speech in the workplace. The topic was inspired by the firing of Google engineer James Damore for a memo that criticized company efforts to help women to get ahead. The show was hosted by John Donvan, standing in for Joshua Johnson.
Scher
August 07, 2017
The Buffalo Law Journal previewed the latest edition of "The False Claims Act Today," a traveling series of seminars about the FCA that is moderated by TELG's Scott Oswald. The Buffalo event on September 19 will feature a panel discussion and practice tips from local attorneys, a federal judge, and an assistant U.S. Attorney.
The State Journal, a newspaper based in West Virginia, reported on TELG client Michael Barrick's claim that he was illegally fired by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races after raising concerns about an illegal sports-betting ring being run by casino employees on the casino's property.
July 05, 2017
Rocket Matter's Legal Productivity blog reported on lawyers' favorite podcasts. TELG's David Scher nominated "Amicus," a podcast that follows the doings of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Scher
Law360 quoted Scott Oswald on the likely fallout of the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in Kokesh v. SEC, which limits the agency's power to seek "disgorgement" of ill-gotten gains. Beyond making it easier for scammers to keep profits from their crimes, Scott noted, the decision also could hurt the Investor Protection Fund, which is used to reward securities whistleblowers under the Dodd-Frank Act.
MultiBriefs, a publisher of e-mail newsletters, reported on the inevitability of office romance—and how employers can minimize the trouble that sometimes follows. Its roundup quoted TELG principal David Scher, who stressed the importance of written policies and active communication.
Scher
NBC News and other major media covered an $89 million settlement between the U.S. government and Financial Freedom, the troubled reverse-mortgage provider once led by Steven Mnuchin — now U.S. Treasury Secretary. The deal was made possible by TELG client Sandy Jolley, a consumer advocate who received $1.6 million for blowing the whistle on Financial Freedom's shady practices.
Scher
April 12, 2017
Law360 reported on a case filed by TELG client Kathryn Smith, who alleges that defense giant Raytheon Co. fired her illegally after she tried to disclose higher-than-expected losses on a tsunami warning system. The article quoted extensively from Ms. Smith's complaint—and noted that she's not the only whistleblower Raytheon is battling in court.
April 10, 2017
CBS19 and other local media in Charlottesville, Va., reported on the University of Virginia's formal response to an equal-pay and discrimination complaint filed by TELG client Betsy Ackerson, a U.Va. administrator.
February 17, 2017
The Washington Post was among many outlets to cover the case of TELG client Betsy Ackerson, an administrator at the University of Virginia who alleges that she is paid less because she is a woman. In addition to the Post, coverage came from The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.); Law360; The Cavalier Daily (U.Va.'s student-run paper); The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch; television stations including CBS 19, NBC 29, and ABC 13; and many outlets that carried an Associated Press report, including WTOP news radio.
January 18, 2017
Law360 interviewed TELG principal Nicholas Woodfield about a $1.1 million settlement that was reached between a group of sheet-metal workers — whom he represented — and two aircraft maintenance and repair companies that had been accused of underpaying them. Nick said the favorable result should serve as an example in similar disputes.
The Baltimore Sun mentioned TELG client Chelsea Raley and her tentative settlement with Maryland State Police: Tentative settlement reached in Maryland State Police trooper’s suit.
Bloomberg BNA Federal Contracts Report
Contractor Whistle-Blower Reprisal Claims Set to Rise
January 10, 2017
Federal Contracts Report, a Bloomberg BNA service that reports on federal procurement issues, interviewed TELG principal Scott Oswald about a new law that strengthens protections for whistleblowers who report fraud, waste, and abuse on projects for the U.S. government. The article also highlighted a related win for two TELG clients — a husband and wife who faced retaliation while working at a federal contractor.
December 14, 2016
Fox 5 DC interviewed R. Scott Oswald, managing principal of the The Employment Law Group® law firm about the 2016 presidential elections and politics in the workplace.
December 02, 2016
The Bellmore Herald (Long Island, NY) interviewed TELG client Chris Sourgoutsis about her termination from the U.S. Capitol Police after she complained of being discriminated against. The Herald also talked with TELG principal Tom Harrington, who represents Ms. Sourgoutsis in her federal lawsuit against the Capitol Police.
November 22, 2016
Washington Technology, a Web site for government contractors, reported on a $2.1 million jury verdict in favor of two TELG clients — a husband and wife who both were fired after they filed a whistleblower lawsuit against their employer, ManTech International.
The Washington Business Journal covered a federal jury's decision in favor of two TELG clients who will receive more than $2 million in damages from ManTech International, a large defense contractor that fired them illegally after they filed a whistleblower lawsuit. This verdict was the first to be reported under new whistleblower protections that were introduced by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013.
November 16, 2016
TELG principal Nicholas Woodfield quoted by Law360 on First-of-its-kind ruling in whistleblower protection case under Dodd-Frank: “Judge Backs Broad Whistleblower Definition Under Dodd-Frank.”
