Can a whistleblower be liable for damages for filing a false claim?

In California, a whistleblower may be liable for damages if their claim is proven to be false. Generally, the whistleblower cannot be held liable for damages for any information they reported to the government, even if it is untrue. However, the whistleblower may be liable for damages for any actions they take to influence the outcomes of their own whistleblower claim. This includes filing a false claim or knowingly providing false information. In addition, the whistleblower may be liable if their whistleblower activity was done in bad faith, or with malicious intent, or intentionally caused harm to another person or organization. The whistleblower may also be liable for damages if their action was done with the intent to defraud the government or to interfere with an investigation or to obtain an unjust benefit. The best way for a whistleblower to protect themselves from liability is to act in good faith in reporting any information they believe to be true. They should also be sure to only provide truthful information to the government and to avoid misrepresenting facts or making false claims. Doing so will help protect the whistleblower from any potential liability for damages.

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