Shareholder Brian Markovitz testifies before the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and Maryland House Judiciary Committee

This week Mr. Markovitz, pictured here with Jacklyn DeMar, Director of Legal Education at Taxpayers Against Fraud, testified in support of companion bills Senate Bill 666 and House Bill 773, which would strengthen the Maryland False Claims Act and the Maryland False Health Claims Act.

If passed, the bills will allow whistleblowers to continue to pursue legal action against companies and individuals when the state government is unable to do so.  The bills also require that certain penalties under the law be at least $5,000.  “This is a very important piece of legislation.  The Maryland Attorney General’s Office doesn’t have unlimited resources to pursue all the fraud that is committed against the state.  These bills will allow whistleblowers to continue with meritorious cases when the government simply does not have the resources to continue the fight and will return more money stolen from all taxpayers in the state of Maryland,” Mr. Markovitz explained.

SB 666 and HB 773 are available here, and Mr. Markovitz’s written testimony is available here(SB 666 and HB 773).