Qui Tam Whistleblower Lawsuits (False Claims Act)
A Financial Reward For Exposing Government Fraud
If you believe that you have information about a person or company defrauding the United States government, you may be torn about speaking up, especially if that person or company is your employer. You want to do the right thing, but you are rightly concerned about the backlash if you do.
A qui tam lawsuit provides additional incentive for whistleblowers to take that brave but risky step. You could be entitled to a share of any money the government recovers in prosecuting the fraud. But don’t breathe one word until you talk to the lawyers at Gilbert Employment Law, P.C.
Do you have specific knowledge of fraud?
We represent federal sector and government contractor employees nationwide in qui tam lawsuits. Call 888-676-8096 to arrange a consultation.
The False Claims Act Encourages Whistleblowing On Fraud
Federal law protects whistleblowers against retaliation for reporting illegal conduct. The federal False Claims Act goes a step farther, providing the unusual remedy of compensating whistleblowers.
The False Claims Act allows people who have knowledge of fraud involving federal government funds to file a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. government. You must be the first person to come forward with a good faith allegation of specific fraudulence or conspiracy to defraud, such as:
- Contracting fraud (overbilling, services not rendered)
- Healthcare fraud (phantom patients, double billing, kickbacks)
- Bid rigging or bribing government officials
- Falsifying federal grant or loan applications
- Other false or fraudulent claims to the federal government
If you initially participated in the fraud before blowing the whistle, it complicates matters but does not necessarily disqualify you. Our lawyers can discuss the specifics of your case to determine if you would be able to bring a qui tam action.
Qui Tam Actions: Risk And Reward
The government recognizes that whistleblowers come forward at their own peril. Some are fired and blackballed for exposing wrongdoing, or suffer other reprisal such as demotion, transfer and harassment.
If the government pursues the case and recovers monetary damages, eligible qui tam whistleblowers will receive a significant cut in recognition of their personal sacrifices. Depending on your involvement in the prosecution, you could receive as much as 25 or 30 percent, but not less than 10 percent, of the recovery. The False Claims Act has enabled the government to recover billions of dollars worth of fraud that might otherwise have gone undiscovered and unpunished.
We Protect Your Rights
Filing a qui tam lawsuit can be intimidating. Fortunately, there are whistleblower laws in place to protect you. When the case is originally filed it is placed under seal which means your identity is kept secret, at least in the early stages. If your employer identifies you as the whistleblower, the law prohibits them from demoting, suspending or terminating you. If they retaliate anyway, we will aggressively pursue your legal remedies.
If you have knowledge of fraud, we can help you come forward in a way the mitigates the fallout and preserves your eligibility for compensation. We take qui tam cases throughout the United States. Contact us online to schedule a consultation, or call us today at 888-676-8096.
