QUI TAM WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEYS
REPRESENTING WHISTLEBLOWERS IN QUI TAM LAWSUITS
Sadly, our government is defrauded out of billions of dollars each year. A qui tam lawsuit is a type of whistleblower action that helps the government combat fraud and recover stolen funds. Under federal law, these cases fall under the False Claims Act.
The False Claims Act allows people who are not affiliated with the government to file actions against federal contractors who are defrauding the government. In other words, a private citizen can sue a person or company engaged in fraudulent behavior to recover for all Americans.
As a direct result of whistleblowers fighting corruption and bringing light to fraud, qui tam cases have recovered tens of billions of dollars over the last decade. If you have information regarding fraudulent acts committed against the government, you should immediately get in touch with Potts Law Firm. Our qui tam whistleblower lawyers understand how to navigate the intricacies of these complex cases and will work to get you the reward money you deserve.
Schedule a free initial consultation by calling (888) 420-1299 or contacting us online to discuss your concerns with our team. We offer same-day appointments and provide services in English and Spanish.
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF A FALSE CLAIMS ACT WHISTLEBLOWER CASE?
When a contractor does business with the federal government, they are expected to act truthfully, just as they would with any other company or entity. This means they cannot make material misrepresentations or attempt to steal money from the government, though these incidents can be startlingly common.
The False Claims Act is designed to cover many types of fraud, including:
Put more simply, the False Claims Act may apply if someone knowingly pays less than what they owe to the government through fraudulent activity, accepts money from the government they know they are not owed, or attempts to extract money from the government that they have not earned through fraudulent activity. For example, a government contractor is defrauding the government if they inflate what they are owed on an invoice. A government contractor is also breaking the law if they receive more money than they know they are owed but do not call attention to the error.
Other types of dishonesty can also fall under the False Claims Act. For example, if a government contractor knowingly sells substandard or defective materials to the government, the transaction may be considered submitting a “false claim.” Courts have even found that pharmaceutical companies marketing drugs for purposes not specifically covered by the applicable FDA approvals can be held accountable through the False Claims Act.
When someone discovers any of these kinds of dishonesty, they can potentially file a qui tam lawsuit on the government’s behalf. For example, if an employee knows their employer is submitting false paperwork to Medicare to increase the money they get from the government, the employee could “blow the whistle” and take legal action under the False Claims Act. If you are not sure whether suspicious or harmful activity involving the government warrants further action, our qui tam whistleblower attorneys are happy to evaluate your situation and walk you through your options.
WHAT DOES “QUI TAM” MEAN?
“Qui tam” is an abbreviation of the phrase “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur,” which means “he who brings an action for the king as well as for himself.”
CAN ANYONE BRING A QUI TAM LAWSUIT?
To successfully bring a qui tam lawsuit, you must be an “original source” of the information about the alleged fraud. This means you must have direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are primarily based. You must also be willing to voluntarily provide this information to the government.
In other words, you cannot necessarily bring a qui tam lawsuit if you were only told about possible fraud. If your friend works for an employer that may be engaging in Medicare fraud, for example, your friend – the employee of the company that may be perpetrating fraudulent activity – probably qualifies to file a qui tam lawsuit, not you.
An employee, contractor, or even a competitor could choose to “blow the whistle” upon discovering possible fraud perpetrated against the government. Public interest groups who act as watchdogs and seek to limit government waste may also take legal action.
WHAT DOES QUI TAM LITIGATION ENTAIL?
In qui tam litigation, the whistleblower – who must be a private citizen unaffiliated with a government entity – files a lawsuit against the company that is defrauding the government. The government may choose to join the lawsuit after a subsequent investigation.
The qui tam lawsuit will be kept secret while the case is built. During this process, legal representatives protect the whistleblower and help them submit evidence and case documentation to the relevant government authorities. If the whistleblower prevails, they typically receive a percentage of the recovery as a “thank you” for their efforts.
In many instances, criminal charges may be brought against the defendant if the government intervenes in the case, as violations of the False Claims Act tend to also violate criminal laws. Should this occur, the case is typically out of the whistleblower’s hands.
WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION EXISTS FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS?
Under the law, whistleblowers receive numerous protections after they call attention to potentially fraudulent activity and file a qui tam lawsuit. Specifically, an employer may not retaliate or discriminate against a whistleblower for bringing a claim against them. This does not mean unlawful retaliation or discrimination does not occur, unfortunately, which is why you consider retaining experienced legal representation before moving forward with a qui tam case. You should immediately discuss your case with our qui tam whistleblower lawyers if are wrongfully terminated or are treated adversely after blowing the whistle.
When you uncover fraud committed against the government, turn to our firm for sophisticated guidance and support. Contact us online or call (888) 420-1299 today.
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It’s all about our power. Our experienced team has secured over $1 billion for our clients and will always work to protect your interests as you navigate the qui tam litigation process. We will be direct when advising whether you have a strong case and what you can expect to recover. Our attorneys will assist with all aspects of litigation and be there to advocate for you should your employer attempt to retaliate against you. Our firm can assist you wherever you are, so we encourage you to get in touch if you think you have information about fraud perpetrated against the government.
Typically, the whistleblower and their representatives can receive 10 to 15% of any recovery made by the government as a reward for bringing the fraud to light. Our qui tam whistleblower attorneys will always seek to maximize your compensation.
No, qui tam litigation is not just limited to claims falsely submitted to the federal government. Many states have similar laws for helping their governments combat fraud. For example, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico all have a Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act for claims submitted to Medicaid.
After a qui tam lawsuit has been filed, the government will investigate the allegations. They will then decide whether they wish to take over the prosecution of the case or let you pursue the litigation on your own. With the nearly limitless resources of the government, the odds of a successful outcome tremendously increase when they decide to get involved.
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For assistance from our experienced legal team, please contact us online or call (888) 420-1299 today.
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