One of the most vital organizations dedicated to protecting whistleblowers and advancing the interests of False Claims Act relators and their counsel is Taxpayers Against Fraud, or TAF, a nonprofit, public interest organization dedicated to combating fraud against the government and protecting public resources through public-private partnerships. A list of twenty things that TAF does to support whistleblowers, including protecting and expanding the federal and state False Claims Acts and IRS/CFTC/SEC Whistleblower Laws, can be found on TAF’s website, but in our experience, TAF’s contributions cannot be quantified. The organization is an incredible resource for relators and their counsel alike, and does much to foster the “public-private partnership” envisioned by the framers of the False Claims Act and its amendments. You may have noticed that we use two (quite entertaining) TAF-produced videos to explain the False Claims Act and to educate potential whistleblowers on how to prepare their claims.
Bracker & Marcus has proudly been a “Penny Pledger” since the firm’s inception, pledging to donate 1% of its profits from successful qui tam settlements and judgments to the TAF Education Fund. (This donation is made after distribution to our clients and does not affect their recoveries.)
As individuals, Julie Bracker and Jason Marcus have been members of TAF since they first began representing whistleblowers almost a decade ago. And this year marks the third time that partner Julie Bracker has been honored with the opportunity to share her knowledge and insights with her fellow qui tam lawyers at the annual convention.
Bracker & Marcus LLC is pleased to announce that this year it joins Stone & Magnanini, LLP, Goldberg Kohn, Protectus Law PLLC, Tycko & Zavareei LLP and Jamie Bennett, Esq. in sponsoring TAF’s Fifteenth Annual Conference and Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. from November 16-18. This year’s conference will include the best and brightest of qui tam counsel from around the country, as well as prominent politicians (including the “patron saint” of the FCA, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA)), representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorney generals’ offices, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country (including U.S. Attorney Michael Moore from the Middle District of Georgia and U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley from the Middle District of Florida), along with a keynote address by Ralph Nader and several federal judges.
TAF members include not only FCA attorneys, but also whistleblowers, politicians, and experts. If you are a supporter of the fight against fraud and protecting the public fisc, it is a wonderful organization to join and/or make a tax-deductible donation.