Item: Kearns Rotolo Law
Rating: 5
Author: - Stephanie

Whistle-Blower Protections & Law

Workers in New Jersey who report actions that they believe are unlawful or violate public health, safety or welfare are protected from retaliation from their employers under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), otherwise known as the “Whistle-Blower Act.”

The New Jersey Supreme Court has called the State’s whistle–blower law the “most far–reaching statute” in the country. The law makes it illegal for an employer to take retaliatory action against an employee for:

Reporting an action he or she believes to be illegal or unethical, or unhealthy or unsafe for the public or the environment;

Cooperating in any investigation of such violations; or

Refusing to participate in activities the employee feels are unlawful, fraudulent or in violation of policies regarding the health and safety of the public or environmental protection.

Retaliatory actions can include denial of benefits or job opportunities as well as dismissal.

Employees do not have to prove that their employers actually committed an illegal or unethical activity, but they do have to show they had “reasonable belief” that such an activity occurred.

Workers who do experience retaliatory actions because they “blew the whistle” may be able to recover damages. In order for an employee to be protected under CEPA, he or she first has to report the suspected wrongdoing to a supervisor and give their employer a reasonable amount of time to correct the situation. There are exceptions to this if the employee believes that the supervisor already knows about problems or if he or she fears physical retaliation for filing the report.

CEPA has specific protections for certified or licensed health care workers who report activities, testify or refuse to carry out practices they believe would amount to poor patient care quality.

If you witness unlawful or unethical practices in the workplace and want to report them, you should be aware of the proper procedure for doing so as well as your rights under CEPA. To help you fully understand the process, you may want to seek out the services of an experienced attorney. If you have experienced retaliatory action for blowing the whistle, contact Kearns Rotolo Law. Protect your rights. Call Kearns Rotolo Law today.

★★★★★

The absolute BEST!!! I have a family of attorneys but needed someone local. Victor was recommended to me and words cannot describe how pleased I was with his firm. The outstanding service and attention each member of his staff gave to me surpassed any and all expectations. Victor surrounds himself with a hardworking team that he leads. I felt it was money spent wisely. I will continue to recommend Victor and his associates.

- Stephanie

Mr. Rotolo has helped me numerous times in legal matters and has continued to support and help me through countless hardships. He is dedicated to providing the best service and is a true professional. I will continue to consult with him regarding any legal issues in the future. He is a respectable, hardworking, kind hearted man and I would recommend his legal services to anyone.

- Matthew

I am an attorney and have practiced law for 26 years. I hired Vic to handle a very difficult family matter because I do not handle family law. Vic was extremely competent and obtained a result far beyond my expectations. Without his counsel my son's and family's life would have been changed forever. Thank you Vic for your good lawyering. I very much appreciate the personal attention and time dedicated to this matter. I highly recommend Vic.

- Anthony

We recently had a situation where we needed to hire an attorney. We selected Kearns Rotolo Law and I can honestly say that we were above and beyond satisfied with Vic and his team. We would absolutely recommend this firm to anyone should the need arise. We blindly picked the firm out of the phone book because I liked his ad. Now I believe that God was pointing us in the right direction. Thank you Vic and Kearns Rotolo Law for being there for us in our time of need.

- Kim

Victor's expertise, due diligence, and empathy for his client made my first experience with the law (and last) a non-stressful one. Before the case, I did my research and looked over about 20 lawyers before choosing Victor. All my sources pointed to him as the best and they weren't off even a bit. Victor treated my case like it was his own and kept me up to date with all my appointments, breakthroughs in the case, and guided me step through step in a process that I never thought that I had to come to endure. If Victor's not available Susy will go out of her way to take care you. The productivity and efficiency in that office is second to none. Thank you Victor!

- Michael

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