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Reuters: SEC Eager to Prosecute COVID-19 Misconduct Amid Flurry of Whistleblower Complaints

By Harris Mufson, Pinchos Goldberg & Dominique Kilmartin on May 28, 2020
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A Reuters article published on May 26, 2020 reports that the SEC has experienced an uptick in complaints amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  According to the article, the SEC received about 4,000 complaints from mid-March through mid-May – a 35% increase from the previous year.  With an abundance of tips at its disposal, the SEC is eager to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 related misconduct.

The article discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has incited a wave of misconduct, ranging from loan and healthcare fraud to the production of counterfeit and substandard medical supplies, across a wide range of industries.  The article quotes an SEC spokeswoman as stating: “Unfortunately, fraudsters often seek to exploit difficult situations like the ongoing pandemic for their own gain.  The SEC frequently relies on the tips that we receive from the public.”

According to the article, the SEC has already begun cracking down on COVID-19 misconduct.  For example, the SEC created a task force specifically designed to monitor the market and detect potential abuses.  With the help of that group, the SEC recently charged two companies for allegedly publishing false and misleading information about its COVID-19 testing products.  The article suggests that these charges will be the first of many COVID-19 related enforcement actions.  The SEC’s Co-Head of Enforcement, Steven Peikin, is quoted as stating: “We expect to see the SEC bring more actions as we continue to investigate suspected COVID-19 related scams.”

Notably, the Reuters article comes on the heels of our recent prediction that employers are likely to face a deluge of whistleblower claims under various laws and legal theories in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We will be monitoring these whistleblower cases closely and continue to report on key future developments.

*               *               *

Proskauer’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team is focused on supporting and addressing client concerns. Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for guidance on risk management measures, practical steps businesses can take and resources to help manage ongoing operations.

Photo of Harris Mufson Harris Mufson

Harris M. Mufson is a partner in Proskauer’s Labor & Employment Law Department, where he serves as co-head of the Firm’s Whistleblowing & Retaliation Practice Group and the Disability, Accommodation & Leave Management Practice Group. He is highly regarded as a trusted advisor…

Harris M. Mufson is a partner in Proskauer’s Labor & Employment Law Department, where he serves as co-head of the Firm’s Whistleblowing & Retaliation Practice Group and the Disability, Accommodation & Leave Management Practice Group. He is highly regarded as a trusted advisor to clients in a wide range of industries regarding significant employment issues. Harris has vast expertise in employment matters, representing employers in disputes regarding discrimination and retaliation, whistleblowing, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, defamation, breach of contract, wage and hour, and restrictive covenants. In addition to litigating, Harris counsels clients on compliance with employment-related laws, as well as the development, implementation and enforcement of personnel policies and procedures. Additionally, he has conducted numerous internal investigations regarding sensitive employment matters.

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Photo of Pinchos Goldberg Pinchos Goldberg

Pinny Goldberg is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department. Pinny represents employers in a broad array of matters before federal and state courts, FINRA and other arbitration panels, and administrative agencies, including the EEOC and its state equivalents, and in…

Pinny Goldberg is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department. Pinny represents employers in a broad array of matters before federal and state courts, FINRA and other arbitration panels, and administrative agencies, including the EEOC and its state equivalents, and in pre-litigation negotiations. Matters he works on include discrimination and harassment, wage and hour, wrongful discharge, whistleblowing and retaliation, covenants not to compete, breaches of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, and tort and contract claims.

In addition to handling litigation and dispute resolution, Pinny regularly advises clients on a wide variety of employment issues, including drafting, reviewing and revising handbooks and workplace policies. He also addresses questions and concerns related to hiring, wage and hour issues, employee leave, performance problems, terminations of employment, and separation agreements and releases.

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Photo of Dominique Kilmartin Dominique Kilmartin

Dominique Kilmartin is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Employment Litigation & Arbitration Group.

Dominique graduated cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she was an editor of the Seton Hall Law…

Dominique Kilmartin is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Employment Litigation & Arbitration Group.

Dominique graduated cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law, where she was an editor of the Seton Hall Law Review. Dominique also worked as a student attorney at the Civil Litigation & Practice Clinic and as an intern for the Honorable Judge John Michael Vazquez of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Upon graduation from law school, Dominique received the ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law.

Prior to joining the firm, Dominique served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lee A. Solomon, Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

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  • Posted in:
    Employment & Labor
  • Blog:
    Proskauer Whistleblower Defense
  • Organization:
    Proskauer Rose LLP
  • Article: View Original Source

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