Los Angeles Whistleblower Lawyer

Reported fraud, safety hazards or illegal conduct at a Los Angeles company or public agency, and then faced retaliation? California law protects you, and federal law may reward you. We represent Los Angeles whistleblowers in retaliation and fraud cases.

On this page: California laws · LA industries · Retaliation · Remedies · Courts · FAQ

Smith Trial Group represents whistleblowers across Los Angeles County, from downtown and Century City to Long Beach, El Segundo, Burbank, Pasadena and the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles has one of the most diverse economies in the country, and with it a wide range of whistleblower issues: healthcare billing fraud, safety violations at ports and warehouses, financial misconduct, government contracting fraud, misuse of public funds, and illegal practices in entertainment, tech and real estate. Attorney Cardon Smith spent years defending Fortune 500 companies and served as a law clerk to a federal judge, so he knows how large employers defend these claims.

California Laws That Protect Los Angeles Whistleblowers

• Labor Code 1102.5, the core whistleblower statute, protects employees who report suspected violations of law to a government agency or to someone at work with authority to investigate, and employees who refuse to participate in illegal activity.
• Labor Code 6310 protects employees who complain about workplace safety or health hazards, including complaints to Cal/OSHA.
• Labor Code 98.6 protects employees who complain about unpaid wages or other Labor Code violations.
• Health and Safety Code 1278.5 protects healthcare workers and medical staff who raise patient-safety concerns.
• The California False Claims Act protects employees who try to stop fraud on state and local government, and lets whistleblowers bring cases on the government’s behalf.
• Wrongful termination in violation of public policy, a common-law claim that can be brought alongside statutory claims. See wrongful termination.

Where We See Whistleblower Cases in LA

Healthcare

Los Angeles is home to large hospital systems, medical groups, labs, hospices and Medicare Advantage plans. Billing fraud, kickbacks and patient-safety concerns are frequent subjects of whistleblower claims. See healthcare fraud whistleblower lawyer.

Ports, logistics and warehouses

Workers at the ports and in the logistics chain report safety hazards, wage violations, misclassification and customs or tariff evasion, which can support a False Claims Act case.

Aerospace, defense and government contracting

The South Bay and Antelope Valley aerospace industry produces defense contractor fraud cases involving testing, pricing and cybersecurity. See defense contractor whistleblower lawyer.

Public agencies

Employees of cities, the County of Los Angeles, school districts and special districts are protected by Labor Code 1102.5 and other laws when they report waste, fraud or illegal conduct. Claims against public employers often require a government claim within six months, so act quickly.

Entertainment, media and tech

Employees in entertainment and tech report wage violations, safety issues on sets and job sites, harassment, data privacy violations and investor fraud. Employees of public companies have additional Sarbanes-Oxley protection.

What Retaliation Looks Like

Retaliation is not always a termination. It can include demotion, a pay cut, loss of shifts or commissions, exclusion from projects, a transfer to a worse location, a sudden performance plan, a hostile work environment, or threats to report someone to immigration authorities. The law protects against all of these. Under Labor Code 1102.6, once you show your protected activity was a contributing factor, the employer must prove by clear and convincing evidence that it would have taken the same action anyway.

What You Can Recover

Remedies can include lost wages and benefits, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per Labor Code 1102.5 violation, and attorney’s fees. Federal laws can add double back pay and whistleblower awards. See federal whistleblower lawyer and qui tam cases.

Los Angeles Courts

Whistleblower lawsuits in Los Angeles County are generally filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, including the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. Federal claims, including qui tam cases, are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. We handle most whistleblower retaliation cases on contingency. See also our California whistleblower lawyer page and Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What laws protect whistleblowers in Los Angeles?

California Labor Code 1102.5 is the main law, along with protections for safety complaints (Labor Code 6310), wage complaints (Labor Code 98.6), healthcare workers (Health and Safety Code 1278.5) and the California False Claims Act. Federal laws such as SOX, Dodd-Frank and the False Claims Act may also apply.

I work for a city or the County of Los Angeles. Am I protected?

Yes. Public employees are protected by Labor Code 1102.5 and other laws. Claims against public entities may require a government claim within six months, so it is important to get advice quickly.

Is it retaliation if I was not fired but my hours or pay were cut?

It can be. Retaliation includes demotions, pay cuts, lost shifts, transfers, unwarranted discipline and other actions that would discourage a reasonable employee from reporting.

Can I report anonymously?

Some programs, such as the SEC Whistleblower Program, allow anonymous reporting through a lawyer. Internal reports and many agency complaints are not fully anonymous, so talk with a lawyer about the best channel.

How long do I have to bring a claim?

Deadlines depend on the law and the employer. Labor Code 1102.5 claims generally have three years, but SOX complaints must be filed within 180 days, and claims against public employers may require a government claim within six months.

What does a whistleblower lawyer cost?

The consultation is free and confidential. Most retaliation cases are handled on contingency.