Senate Passes Bill That Would Reward Whistleblowers
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The U.S. Senate recently passed legislation that would allow the Department of Transportation to reward auto industry employees who report vehicle safety defects to the government, The Detroit News reported last week.
The newspaper wrote that the bill, the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act, would enable these employees to be paid millions of dollars for reporting the defects.
According to the legislation, the reward would be available to any employee or contractor from an automobile manufacturer, part supplier, or dealership who reports previously unknown safety problems resulting in over $1 million in fines against an automotive company,
The Secretary of Transportation could pay the whistleblower up to 30 percent of the fines collected from the company, the Senate bill states.
Last November, Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) introduced the bill, which was passed by the Senate on April 28.
Earlier in the year, Thune had underscored the reason for the proposed law. While I believe most manufacturers are dedicated to putting vehicle safety first, there have been disappointing examples where that did not happen and Americans died and sustained serious injuries, he said in a written statement.
Two auto industry manufacturers General Motors (GM) and Takata Corp. were recently fined for safety problems, The Detroit News wrote in April.
GMs safety problem involved a faulty ignition switch, according to ConsumerReports.org.
GM has linked 13 deaths to the defective switch, the nonprofit news website wrote.
The switch could malfunction by slipping out of position, shutting off power to the vehicle and making the air bags fail in a crash, the site added.
Takatas problem involved air bags.
Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a statement urging car owners with certain vehicles to act on a safety recall and replace defective Takata air bags.
The NHTSA also said that there were 7.8 million affected vehicles from ten manufacturers: Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.
In a letter to the NHTSA, a Takata executive said that there were potential problems with the air bag inflators that could be caused by exposure to high levels of humidity in Florida and Puerto Rico.
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Working at Phillips Law Group has been great the 1st few years in I noticed how well organized and run this Firm was from Intake to Settlement the Client has the expertise of a staff member uniquely qualified for the particular stage of each Clients claim and all other Law firms try to emulate what we do here but none quite get it right because they lack one major component “Compassion”. We are a FAMILY not just a group of people/employees. We care deeply about each other and our clients’ we are considerate, compassionate and make sure that all our Clients’ needs are met from beginning to end. That’s because we treat our clients just like we treat each other. Nothing like walking through the office and saying Hello to fellow employees who always seem to be smiling. 16yrs in and it only seems to be getting better.
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PLG is the best! Highly recommend. Love that they do so much to help the community.
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Phillips Law Group is a company that has taught me so many things. Here your work, your dedication, effort and discipline are valued, in addition to the fact that, as a woman, as an immigrant and as a human being, I have been given value and empowerment. We are a successful law firm because all workers feel part of a great family. I am very proud and honored to work at Phillips Law Group.
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Sophia H is very helpful.
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Great experience! Took care of pretty much everything, and I always felt like I want in good hands. Caroline Fa. was also a great help with everything. She always returned my calls and I never felt unheard. Even after my case she would still help me with my insurance documents.
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I would like to send special thanks to Phillips Law Group for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Best Law Firm here in the Valley. During these troubling times with the epidemic, Phillips Law Group has masterfully created this family-like environment while still maintaining a professional and business-like approach for all their clients. Thru impeccable leadership that is unmatched by other law firms to the Multi-diverse employment opportunities that many employees advance within the firm; Phillips Law Group has not only distanced themselves from all other competition in the Personal Injury field but also has innovatively changed the narrative of being a great law institution. From providing Employee Appreciation Day to celebrating all major Holiday including great competitive contests; Phillips Law Group has the total participation of all employees to help contribute to the continued success of this firm. So in closing I would like to thank Senior Administration (Jeffery Phillips, Eva Chiaramonte, and Tim Tonkin) along with all of my colleagues and many friends for help making Phillips Law Group a unique and wonderful place to call my place of employment for 6+ years.
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Phillips Law Group does so much for the community!!! I especially enjoy seeing Juan Roque out there. This gentle giant always has a smile on his face and is a part of a caring and giving team.
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Many companies talk about teamwork but few practice it. Many companies talk about an employee friendly environment but few actually provide it. At Phillips Law Group the foundation of our success is making sure we work as a team and that we work in an environment that allows everyone to thrive and be at their best every day. Our firm understands that in order for the client to have a great experience the people responsible for that client’s case must be given all the necessary tools and encouragement to make that happen. That’s the Phillips Way. As a manager of this firm in charge of several employees as well as directly affecting the client’s experience I take tremendous pride in saying we live by these premises and we work hard to build on them and make them better every day. This is an amazing place because it has amazing people working here!
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I’ve been working at Phillips Law Group for nearly four years and I can confidently say this is the best personal injury firm in Arizona to work for. The firm is the best for numerous reasons but to start, Phillips Law Group gives employees opportunities for promotions and growth. I started working within the settlement department, moved to a paralegal assistant and grew to be a pre-litigation paralegal with my own case load. Each attorney I have worked for is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and easy to talk to. Secondly, I love how Phillips Law shows appreciation for employees. They host Friday Zoom Huddles giving out PTO, goodie bags, special shout outs, bonuses and gift cards. They also host extravagant holiday parties and fun contests during the Holidays! Lastly, the firm cares about giving back to the community, which is a trait I value as well. It’s rewarding to see a fast paced firm taking time out of their busy day to pay it forward. I would highly recommend working at Phillips Law Group!
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Great company and awesome service. Thanks Caroline fabos. Kudos to all.