New York Settles Largest-Ever Tax Evasion Whistleblower Case

Jordan A. Thomas represents whistleblower securing record-breaking SEC award

In the now-largest recovery in a tax case brought under the whistleblower provisions of the New York state False Claims Act (FCA), Firm partner Jordan A. Thomas represented a whistleblower in a case alleging that Harbert Management Corporation failed to pay millions in New York state income tax over the course of several years.

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the $40 million settlement this week. The whistleblower, whose identity remains protected, will receive 22 percent of the settlement ($8.8 million), the largest amount and percentage share ever for a whistleblower in a New York False Claims Act case not involving Medicaid.

According to Thomas, “This should be a cautionary tale for wealthy companies and individuals about the probability of detection and prosecution because of whistleblower laws enabling private citizens and their counsel to bring to light misconduct previously invisible to regulators.”