James H. Shoemaker, Jr. Blog

Serving Clients in Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads, Washington D.C. & Throughout the U.S.

October 19, 2021

It is not always easy to do the right thing. The threat of retaliation is a significant concern for those upstanding individuals who bravely decide to speak up about injustices and misdeeds. Fortunately, various laws protect whistleblowers against retaliation and help them fight back.

Whether you are worried about retaliation or are already experiencing it after exercising your rights, you do not have to face these...

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August 11, 2021

Whistleblowers bravely report illegal or unethical activities within their workplace. However, myths about whistleblower protections, retaliation, and compensation abound, preventing individuals from standing up for what is right. Here are a few false beliefs about qui tam actions:

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June 18, 2021

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 You have all the traits of a good employee. You are dedicated, reliable, and experienced in your field. Yet others make unfair judgments about you due to your age. Fortunately, there are federal and state laws in place to protect people over 40 from workplace discrimination.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967...

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April 15, 2021

Car accident to-do listNo one expects to get hit by another driver and yet there are millions of car accidents every year. Do you know what to do if you’re ever involved in a crash? Take these six steps to protect yourself — and make it easier to recover the compensation you deserve through a lawsuit:

  1. Call 911: Whether you’ve been in a minor fender bender or a major collision, it’s...
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February 11, 2021

Employee rights in Virginia Although it may not always feel like it, you have numerous rights as an employee. If someone else violates those rights and creates an unhealthy or dysfunctional workplace, you could have grounds for a legal claim. Here’s a basic overview of your employee rights that may come in handy if you find yourself in a difficult situation.

First of all, employees have a right to privacy in the workplace....

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January 26, 2021

Healthcare fraud during COVID-19Healthcare fraud has always been a problem in this country. Some estimates suggest that as much as 10 percent of all annual healthcare spending is paid out on fraudulent claims. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn new attention to this crime.

Healthcare fraud hurts patients at a time that they are already suffering. It increases the cost of drugs and healthcare services so much that...

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November 23, 2020

Cross charging is a widespread type of procurement fraud. It happens when a defense contractor illegally shifts expenses from one contract to another to increase the contractor’s profits.

Here is how cross charging defense contractor fraud tends to work. Say that a contractor has two contracts. One is a fixed-price contract, and one is a cost-plus contract.

In a fixed-price contract, the contractor is...

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October 26, 2020

Workplace harassment comes in so many different forms that it can sometimes be hard to identify. Discriminatory harassment occurs when unwelcome or offensive conduct is directed towards an individual because, at least in part, they are a member of a protected class. Here are three common forms of discriminatory harassment — and how to recognize them.

Stop workplace harassment in Virginia Beach

1. Racial Harassment

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September 28, 2020

Woman experiencing a hostile work environment in Virginia BeachDifferent types of lawyers handle different aspects of the law. An employment lawyer is the most qualified choice to deal with legal matters related to a hostile work environment.

Good employment lawyers know hostile workplace laws like the back of their hands. In addition to assessing the merits of EEOC harassment claims and assisting with the filing...

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August 20, 2020

Contractor fraud government constructionContractor fraud is a serious problem that you may encounter working in the construction industry. It can result in consequences such as inflated costs or the completion of dangerous, sub-standard projects.

This type of fraud becomes even more serious when it occurs on a federal project or a project utilizing federal funds. That is because the False Claims Act imposes liability on persons and companies who defraud...

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