False Claims Act/Qui Tam Litigation

Under the False Claims Act (“FCA”), those who knowingly submit or cause another person or entity to submit false claims for payment of government funds are liable for three times the government’s damages plus civil penalties.

The False Claims Act contains qui tam, also known as whistleblower provisions, which permit all private citizens with evidence of fraud concerning government contracts and programs to sue on behalf of the federal government in order to recover the funds that were fraudulently obtained.  In compensation for the risk and effort of coming forward and filing a FCA case, the citizen whistleblower, known as the “relator,” may be awarded a portion of the funds recovered, sometimes as much as 30 percent of the funds recovered.  One such relator received $126 million from the U.S. government.

In general, the False Claims Act covers fraud involving any federally funded contract or program, with the exception of tax fraud (which is covered by another similar Act).  Types of fraud that fall under the FCA include:

• Medicare and Medicaid Fraud

• Defense Contractor Fraud

• Federal Government Contractor Fraud

• Fraudulently Obtained Loans and Grants

If you would like to confidentially discuss a possible violation, please contact one of our False Claims Act attorneys at Fineberg Gresham.