Qui Tam Lawsuits

Qui tam lawsuits are a type of civil lawsuit by which people, who are not affiliated with the government, can bring a whistleblower claim under the False Claims Act, a federal law.

Persons filing under the False Claims Act stand to receive a portion (usually about 15-25 percent) of any recovered damages. The Act provides a legal tool to counteract fraudulent billings turned in to the federal government. Such cases have been filed by persons with insider knowledge of false claims which have typically involved health care, military, or other government spending programs.

The provision allows a private person, known as a “relator,” to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States, where the person has information that the named defendant has knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false or fraudulent claims to the United States.