Every year, the Department of Education disperses billions of dollars in loans and grants to school districts and private companies throughout the country. This money is supposed to educate children, often through unique or experimental projects that require significant support and funding in their embryonic stages.
But while most educators are dedicated, ethical individuals, the sad fact remains that some of this money is skimmed off the top or mis-directed. Fraud is a common problem in education funding.
James Shoemaker can help if you've become aware of Department of Education-related fraud and want to blow the whistle. Using the False Claims Act and other relevant statutes, we'll protect you and pursue the compensation you deserve.
If you need a whistleblower attorney with ample experience in cases involving Department of Education fraud, please call James Shoemaker today at 757-223-4580. Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein is located in Virginia, but we welcome cases from across the country.
Examples of DOE Fraud and How We Help
Like most large federal agencies, the Department of Education does much of its work through independent bodies across the country. The DOE will disperse money to local school districts to support programs or to private entities to provide goods and services.
This is necessary in a massive federal system of government. But overseeing all of these programs and catching every instance of fraud is quite impossible.
Whistleblowers have an important role to play in protecting the integrity of educational programs by reporting fraud to the relevant authorities. Examples of this fraud include:
- Free lunch fraud
- Student loan fraud
- Failure to live up to agreed-upon standards
- Embezzlement
- Kickbacks
- For-profit university fraud
This is an incomplete list, of course. If the fraud you observed does not fit into any of these categories, that does not mean you don't have a case. Don't hesitate to speak to us about your situation.
Under the False Claims Act, so-called "relators" can recover a percentage of fines levied as a result of their disclosure. But you have to file the case, and you have to move quickly – the False Claims Act is first-come, first-served- there's no divvying up payouts. The first relator to file is the only one eligible for compensation.
If you've become aware of fraud related to a Department of Education program, please call James Shoemaker today at 757-223-4580.
