Pfizer is Ordered to Pay Whistleblowers

Going up against giant corporate businesses can be like an ant battling a raging river, but not for John Kopchinski. Kopchinski six years legal battle with Pfizer have paid off very well. The Gulf War veteran and former Pfizer sale representative will earn more than $51.5 million dollars. Not bad for an out of work former salesman. Pfizer is also being charge a penalty by the US government for the massive marketing malpractice.

Kopchinski and his family celebrate by going getting a family portrait. Kopchinski and his wife say they will still stay in the same house, continue with the same activities as if they did not have the money. Kopchinski, shocked by Pfizer practices in selling the pain killer Bextra filed a lawsuit against Pfizer. The lawsuit sparked a 6 year legal battle, federal and state probe which lead to Wednesday's agreement of the company paying $ 2.3 billion in civil and criminal penalties. Pfizer pleaded guilty to felony charges for promoting Bextra and 12 other drugs for unapproved use and doses.

"In the Army I was expected to protect people at all costs," Kopchinski said in a statement. "At Pfizer I was expected to increase profits at all costs, even when sales meant endangering lives.

"I couldn't do that," added Kopchinski, 45, who was fired by Pfizer in March of 2003, two years before the company pulled Bextra from the market over concerns it raised the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

At the time of his dismissal after raising his concerns with the company, Kopchinski had a baby son and his wife was pregnant with twins. He went from earning about $125,000 a year to living off his retirement fund before landing a job with an insurance company for $40,000 a year.

"It was a lot of stress on the family. I pretty much depleted my entire 401(k)," he said.

"The last six years have been pretty hard, so going forward it's going to be pretty much easier," said Kopchinski, noting that college for his young children "is taken care of." (Berkrot)

Kopchinski and five other whistleblowers will earn about $102 million in payments from the government under the False Claims Act. False Claims Act is an act in which individuals can reap rewards for exposing corporation of wrongdoings.

These rewards are put into place to encourage more people to step forward with any information. In pharmacies a former employee can be black balled in this industry, the payment is just as important.

Berkrot Bill (2009)Pfizer Whistleblower ordeal reaps big reward

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