Whistleblowers to Join Author Talk at Mid-Manhattan Library July 25

On July 25, 2011, one of the nation's leading experts in whistleblower protection law, Stephen M. Kohn, will be sharing a wealth of knowledge from his newly released book, The Whistleblower's Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What's Right and Protecting Yourself (Lyons Press, 2011). In the audience will be Bear Sterns whistleblower EuGene Ross and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) whistleblower Robert Kobus.

The author talk and book signing will be hosted by "Author @ the Library" on July 25th, 2011, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Mid-Manhattan New York Public Library (455 Fifth Avenue at 40th Street). This event is free and open to the public.

Stephen M. Kohn is the Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center (NWC) and is a leading advocate of whistleblower rights. He has successfully represented whistleblowers in numerous cases for over two decades, and has helped to draft key whistleblower legislation. His clients have included some of the most important whistleblowers of our time, from Bunnatine "Bunny" Greenhouse (illegal no-bid contracts to Halliburton) to Linda Tripp (misconduct in the White House).

EuGene Ross was employed as a broker by Bear Stearns & Co. Mr. Ross blew the whistle on a Ponzi scheme involving Amerindo Investment Advisors, Alberto Vilar and Gary Tanaka in 2004 and 2005, as well as wrongdoing by Bear Stearns in the scandal. Mr. Ross assisted the government's investigation and testified at the criminal trial of Mr. Vilar and Mr. Tanaka, who were convicted in 2008 of stealing more than $20 million from Amerindo clients. Mr. Vilar and Mr. Tanaka are currently serving prison sentences for their role in the scandal. Mr. Ross has also continued to disclose to the SEC money laundering and other wrongdoing by Bear Stearns in the Amerindo matter.

Robert Kobus is currently Operations Manager at the FBI. Mr. Kobus was retaliated against for blowing the whistle on time card fraud in the New York field office. Mr. Kobus won his claim of retaliation before the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG). Mr. Kobus received his favorable ruling from the OIG in early 2007. The FBI appealed the IG's findings in March 2007 to the DOJ Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM). Discovery and briefing were completed by April 2009. Twenty-seven (27) months have passed and the OARM has still not ruled on the appeal. Mr. Kobus, whose sister died in the September 11th attacks, has played a key role in educating his representatives and the public on the need to protect national security whistleblowers.

The Whistleblower's Handbook is a comprehensive guide to whistleblowing for The Common worker, with information that is tailored to nearly every segment of the economy. Workers from all fields can follow the twenty-one clearly-defined steps on how to effectively blow the whistle.

Mr. Kohn will share compelling insights from the book, helping employees become knowledgeable about their rights and giving a detailed account on how whistleblowers can follow these laws to qualify for full protection.

Mr. Kohn will also discuss his June 13th New York Times op-ed, "The Whistle-Blowers of 1777," which is based on the final chapter of The Whistleblower's Handbook and details the plight of the first American whistleblowers. This piece explains how the sailors and marines, who blew the whistle on the first Commander of the United States Navy, were protected by the Continental Congress and not persecuted because of "national security" concerns, even in the turbulent time of the American Revolution.

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