Protecting Those Who Stand for Justice

We all have a shared interest in ensuring that businesses follow the law. Whistleblower laws are designed to protect individuals from retaliation when they report wrongful conduct by their employer. Attorney Michael O. Massey, with his J.D. earned with High Honors from the University of Florida College of Law, has dedicated his practice to protecting whistleblowers who take the courageous step of reporting illegal activities.

If you have experienced termination, harassment, or any form of retaliation for reporting illegal employer conduct, know that you have rights. Attorney Massey's judicial clerkship experience with Chief Judge Maurice M. Paul in the U.S. District Court provides him with valuable insight into how federal courts interpret and apply whistleblower protection laws.

Types of Whistleblower Claims

Graduating in the top 10% of his class and serving as Senior Research Editor for the Florida Journal of International Law, Attorney Massey brings exceptional analytical skills to various types of whistleblower cases:

Reports of Illegal Business Practices

One common whistleblower scenario involves employees who report illegal activity by their employer to the government. Attorney Massey's specialized LL.M. in Taxation and previous experience as an International Tax Senior Consultant at Deloitte & Touche provide him with exceptional insight into complex financial and regulatory violations, including:

  • Tax Evasion - Reporting improper tax practices or fraudulent filings

  • Intellectual Property Infringement - Disclosing unauthorized use of protected materials

  • Criminal Activities - Reporting violations of state or federal criminal statutes

  • Regulatory Breaches - Identifying failures to comply with industry regulations

  • Securities Violations - Exposing insider trading or financial misrepresentations

  • Healthcare Fraud - Uncovering Medicare/Medicaid billing fraud or kickback schemes

  • Environmental Violations - Reporting illegal disposal or pollution practices

  • Government Contract Fraud - Revealing false claims or overbilling on federal contracts

While laws vary from state to state, you may have grounds for financial recovery through a civil lawsuit if you've been terminated or harassed for reporting unlawful conduct. Attorney Massey's multiple Book Awards in subjects including Civil Procedure provide him with exceptional skill in navigating these complex legal processes.

Qui Tam Whistleblower Cases

Attorney Massey's construction litigation experience at Vezina, Lawrence, & Piscitelli, P.A. and Moye, O'Brien, O'Rourke, Hogan & Pickert, P.A. developed his skill in building compelling cases under the False Claims Act and similar statutes:

  • False Claims Act Cases - Litigation involving fraud against the federal government

  • SEC Whistleblower Program - Reports of securities violations and investor fraud

  • IRS Whistleblower Program - Disclosure of significant tax underpayment

  • CFTC Whistleblower Program - Reporting derivatives and commodities fraud

In these Qui Tam cases, where federal laws are violated, whistleblowers can not only seek justice and compensation for retaliation but may also be entitled to a percentage of recovered funds. Attorney Massey's background in tax and financial matters makes him particularly effective in these often complex cases.

Reports of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment

Whistleblower claims can also arise when an employee is fired or discriminated against for reporting race discrimination, sexual harassment, or other prohibited employment practices. These reports can be made internally to a superior, or externally to the EEOC or another relevant party.

Since establishing Massey & Duffy, PLLC in 2003, Attorney Massey has successfully represented numerous employees who faced retaliation after reporting:

  • Discriminatory Hiring Practices - Biased selection procedures

  • Hostile Work Environment - Pervasive harassment based on protected characteristics

  • Unfair Compensation Systems - Unequal pay based on gender, race, or other factors

  • Promotion Discrimination - Biased advancement decisions

  • Harassment Cover-ups - Management concealment of reported misconduct

  • ADA Violations - Failure to provide reasonable accommodations

  • FMLA Interference - Penalizing employees for exercising leave rights

Whistleblower Protection Laws

Attorney Massey's comprehensive legal background allows him to effectively leverage various whistleblower protection statutes:

Federal Whistleblower Protections

  • False Claims Act - Protects those reporting fraud against the government

  • Sarbanes-Oxley Act - Shields employees reporting securities violations

  • Dodd-Frank Act - Provides protections for financial whistleblowers

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act - Prohibits retaliation for reporting discrimination

  • OSHA Whistleblower Protections - Safeguards employees reporting safety violations

  • National Defense Authorization Act - Protects defense contractor employees

Florida State Whistleblower Protections

  • Florida Private Whistleblower Act - Protects private sector employees

  • Florida Public Whistleblower Act - Shields government employees

  • Florida False Claims Act - State-level protection for fraud reporters

  • Florida Civil Rights Act - State prohibitions against retaliation

Strategic Representation in Whistleblower Cases

Attorney Massey implements a methodical approach to whistleblower claims:

Initial Case Assessment

  • Whistleblower Protection Analysis - Identifying applicable statutory protections

  • Report Documentation Review - Evaluating evidence of reported misconduct

  • Retaliation Pattern Identification - Establishing timeline of adverse actions

  • Causal Connection Analysis - Linking protected activity to retaliation

  • Damage Assessment - Calculating financial impact of retaliatory actions

Strategic Case Development

  • Agency Filing Preparation - Crafting effective administrative complaints

  • Evidence Preservation - Securing documentation before it disappears

  • Witness Identification - Locating colleagues who can corroborate reports or retaliation

  • Qui Tam Evaluation - Assessing potential for government intervention

  • Settlement Negotiation - Leveraging evidence for favorable pre-litigation resolution

Protecting Your Employment While Taking a Stand

At Massey & Duffy, PLLC, Attorney Massey understands how challenging it can be to deal with negative feedbackor disciplinary actions that may follow whistleblowing activities. While he encourages employees to try to resolve disputes through conversation, sometimes further legal action is required.

Comprehensive Intervention Strategies

Attorney Massey can assist in several ways, including:

  • Challenging Retaliatory Performance Reviews - Identifying bias in post-reporting evaluations

  • Investigating Employment History - Documenting performance before whistleblowing

  • Reviewing Pretextual Discipline - Exposing false justifications for adverse actions

  • Strategic Response Development - Crafting effective replies to disciplinary notices

Proactive Protection Approach

In some cases, Attorney Massey helps clients draft letters to their employers outlining the employee's perspective and explicitly noting the potential whistleblower protection issues, which often resolves the issue or preserves important evidence. In more severe cases, he may escalate the situation by filing with the EEOC or another appropriate agency if the employee is threatened with termination.

Attorney Massey ensures that employers understand they may face liability for retaliation if they fire an employee for exercising their whistleblower rights. His distinguished educational background and commitment to workplace justice provide the foundation for effective advocacy in these sensitive matters.

If you've taken the brave step of reporting illegal activity and now face retaliation, contact Attorney Michael Massey at (352) 359-7538 or Massey@352law.com for a confidential evaluation of your whistleblower case.