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Protections for Auto Industry Whistleblowers

Protections for Auto Industry Whistleblowers

No matter what industry you work in, discovering that your employer is engaging in fraudulent activities or putting people’s lives at risk to earn a profit can be sickening, and you may be unsure of where to turn or what you should do. 

Fortunately, there are legal options available to you to help put a stop to these concerns. In the auto industry in particular, there have been several high-profile cases of companies ignoring safety concerns to make a quick buck. 

Perhaps if a would-be whistleblower like yourself would have known they could be protected, they would have reported their information to the appropriate agency. Below, we go into further detail about the MVSWA and why whistleblowers need to be protected.

The Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act

The Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act (MVSWA) is law specifically designed for individuals who work within the auto industry. After an influx of safety concerns were ignored for financial gain and caused numerous injuries and even deaths, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) came together to put a stop to these unscrupulous actions. 

The MVSWA is still relatively new, having only been enacted in 2015, but it encourages those who have insider information, and work in the automotive field, to report safety concerns, fraud, and violations to the SEC and the DOJ. 

If they are brave enough to come forward, these government agencies could then issue a whistleblower award amounting to as much as 30 percent of whatever sanctions they can recover, as long as the qualifying criteria are met. 

However, blowing the whistle is risky business, and there are genuine concerns that would-be whistleblowers will face that may certainly have them wondering, “How can I protect myself?”

Fears of Retaliation

Blowing the whistle, whether it be in the automotive or securities industry can be very risky. If your employer discovers that you were the one who brought certain violations to light, you could be subjected to retaliatory action. Maybe your boss will demote you, threaten or intimidate you; you could be terminated or harassed. 

Thankfully, the MVSWA provides protections to whistleblowers just like you who have concerns that they will be retaliated against. First, you can report your tip anonymously. As long as you are being represented by a whistleblower attorney, you can protect your identity from becoming known to anyone other than your trusted lawyer. 

However, if you become entitled to a whistleblower award, then both the DOJ and SEC will need to know who you are so they can issue your award. Both agencies will then do everything possible to keep your identity anonymous so it does not become publicly available. 

In addition to remaining anonymous when you report your tip, you also have the right to take action against your employer if they retaliate against you. You can file a civil claim against them that could enable you to be reinstated in your position, obtain back pay, and recover compensation for other losses you’ve suffered as a result of the retaliation. 

Contact a Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Lawyer

To learn more about how you can report safety violations as an auto industry insider while protecting your identity, reach out to a qualified SEC whistleblower lawyer at Meissner Associates. If you are ready to schedule your free and confidential tip review, you can do so by finding us online and submitting our secured contact form or calling our office directly at 1-866-764-3100.



About the Author:

Meissner Associates


When people have knowledge of securities fraud and inadequate corporate disclosures, they come to Meissner Associates to blow the whistle and tip off the SEC. Our firm’s founder, Stuart Meissner, helped craft the rules that reward whistleblowers, giving us in-depth, firsthand knowledge of how to protect whistleblowers and get them the best financial reward for their information.We can provide representation for a number of different whistleblowing matters:SEC whistleblowingCFTC whistleblowingFCPA whistleblowingExposing securities fraudReporting insider tradingMeissner Associates can also assist in recovering losses caused by broker mismanagement and misconduct when at least $100,000 in... View full business profile here: Meissner Associates





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