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What is a Qui Tam Case?

What to Do If You’ve Been Fired for Whistleblowing

When people have evidence of others or entities committing violations of certain federal laws, they may be able to file lawsuits against the violators on behalf of the government. This type of lawsuit is called a qui tam action, and it is encouraged by the government as an important type of tool for catching wrongdoers that the government would otherwise not be aware of or easily discover.

What does qui tam mean?

The term qui tam is a Latin abbreviation for qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur, meaning “[he] who sues in this matter for the king as well as for himself.” It refers to one person stepping in on behalf of another. In the case of a qui tam lawsuit, it involves a whistleblower who files a qui tam action against a company or person who has committed violations of federal laws.

Schedule an appointment today. Call (856) 685-7420 or

Schedule an appointment today.
Call (856) 685-7420 or

The False Claims Act

The False Claims Act is a federal law that has been in existence since the Civil War. It allows private citizens to sue on behalf of the government. If they are successful and the government is able to recover money as a result, the whistleblower is able to collect 30 percent of the amount that the government recovers. Under the False Claims Act, defendants who have committed fraud on the government may be assessed triple damages along with per-violation penalties of up to $11,000.

Why the government encourages these lawsuits

The Department of Justice has stated that qui tam lawsuits are among the most powerful tools the government has at its disposal for uncovering fraud and recouping losses that have resulted. The act was amended in 1986. Since that time, the federal government has been able to recover $38.9 billion from entities who have committed fraud under the act. Of that amount, $27.2 billion was recovered in cases that were filed by whistleblowers. Prosecuting a quit tam lawsuit costs far less than the government recovers from doing so. On average, the government recovers $20 for each dollar it spends on investigating fraud.

In 2013, $3.8 billion was recovered by the government, and $2.9 billion was recovered in cases that were filed by whistleblowers. Whistleblowers were awarded $388 million, an amount that doesn’t include recoveries and awards from state whistleblower laws or Medicaid fraud.

A qui tam lawsuit is a very important tool to help prevent fraud that is committed against the government. People who believe that they have information about a company committing fraud against the government might want to schedule a consultation with the employment law attorneys at Swartz Swidler for advice.

Most Frequently Asked Question: Do I Have A Case?

While it is true that every case is different, The law is pretty clear in most cases. The best way to determine if you have a case is to contact one of our attorneys. For more information check out the FAQ below or visit our FAQ Page

Most Frequently Asked Question:
Do I Have A Case?

While it is true that every case is different, The law is pretty clear in most cases. The best way to determine if you have a case is contact one of our attorneys. For more information on a just a few scenarios checkout the flip box FAQ below or visit our FAQ Page.

Our Locations

Haddonfield Headquarters

9 Tanner Street, Ste. 101
Haddonfield, NJ 08033

Phone: (856) 685-7420
Fax: (856) 685-7417

Philadelphia Satellite Office

123 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Phone: (215) 995-2733

Our Locations

Haddonfield Headquarters

9 Tanner Street, Ste. 101
Haddonfield, NJ 08033

Phone: (856) 685-7420
Fax: (856) 685-7417

 

Philadelphia Satellite Office

123 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Phone: (215) 995-2733