Under the False Claims Act, private individuals with knowledge about an individual, company or other entity defrauding the government may bring a qui tam lawsuit, or whistleblower lawsuit.  A qui tam lawsuit, named from the Latin phrase qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur, meaning “he who sues for the king as well as himself,” is essentially a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of the government by a private citizen for fraud on or false claims submitted to the government.  The individual bringing the qui tam lawsuit, called the “relator,” is often a whistleblower with personal knowledge about a past or ongoing fraud scheme.  If the qui tam lawsuit is successful, the whistleblower is entitled to a share in the recovery.  Types of qui tam lawsuits include:

  • Corporate whistleblower lawsuits
  • Environmental whistleblower lawsuits
  • Pharmaceutical whistleblower lawsuits
  • IRS whistleblower lawsuits
  • Postal fraud whistleblower lawsuits
  • Contractor and/or construction fraud whistleblower lawsuits
  • Utilities, telecommunications and energy fraud whistleblower lawsuits

Qui Tam Lawsuits Recovery

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, since 1986, qui tam lawsuits

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have resulted in over $14 billion in recovery for the United States with more than $2.2 billion being paid to whistleblowers.  The qui tam provision of the False Claims Act provides that the government may recover treble damages (three times the dollar value of the fraud), plus penalties of between $5,500 and $11,000 per false claim.  Additionally, whistleblowers are entitled to recover between 15-30% of damages recovered in the particular qui tam lawsuit.  These qui tam provisions provide whistleblowers protection from whistleblower retaliation and financial incentive to step forth and speak up about illegal and fraudulent acts against the government.

Qui Tam Lawsuit Attorneys

If you have knowledge of an individual, company, corporation or other organization defrauding the government, you do not have to remain silent.  Contact a whistleblower attorney today to discuss your legal options.