How does a qui tam case work?
Definition. In a qui tam action, a private party called a relator brings an action on the government’s behalf. The government, not the relator, is considered the real plaintiff. If successful, a relator in a False Claims Act qui tam action may receive up to 30% of the government’s award.
How long do qui tam cases take?
How long does a qui tam action take? The time from the filing of a qui tam action until its resolution varies greatly from case to case. Most cases, however, are resolved in two to five years. We have handled cases that lasted over eight years, but that is unusual.
What is a qui tam lawyer?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In common law, a writ of qui tam is a writ through which private individuals who assist a prosecution can receive for themselves all or part of the damages or financial penalties recovered by the government as a result of the prosecution.
Is the federal government required to join a qui tam lawsuit?
No. You do not give up your right to bring a qui tam action by going to the government before filing your lawsuit. But if the government has already filed an FCA lawsuit based upon those allegations or transactions, you are barred from bringing a qui tam suit. This is known as the “first to file” rule.
Can you get sued for being a whistleblower?
Known as The False Claims Act, the law protects whistleblowers from retaliation. If you are retaliated against for being a whistleblower, your attorney may file a lawsuit against your employer seeking: Reinstatement if you were terminated. Twice the amount of back pay you lost as a result of the illegal retaliation.
What does qui tam mean in English?
What does qui tam mean? Qui tam is short for the Latin phrase “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur,” which roughly translates to “he who brings an action for the king as well as for himself.”
How much is a whistleblower case worth?
The whistleblower is entitled to a reward of 10 percent to 30 percent of what the government recovers, if the CFTC recovers more than $1 million.
What does qui tam mean?
What does qui tam lawsuit mean?
False Claims Act
Qui tam lawsuits are a type of whistleblower lawsuit that is brought under the False Claims Act, a law that rewards whistleblowers in successful cases where the government recovers funds lost to fraud. Qui tam lawsuits have helped to recover billions that have been stolen from the US Treasury and taxpayers.
What evidence does a whistleblower need?
A whistleblower need not have witnessed the challenged fraud or misconduct but he or she must have concrete and specific evidence of the fraud. Mere suspicion or belief is not enough. Being able to identify the “who, what, where, when, why and how” of the challenged fraud or misconduct is most helpful.
Who is the relator in a qui tam lawsuit?
In a qui tam lawsuit, the whistleblower (also known as a “relator”) initiates the action on behalf of the government, as well as himself or herself. Two alternative scenarios may follow. The government may opt to “intervene” and join the relator — essentially taking charge of the case against the accused.
Who is the qui tam attorney for False Claims Act?
The qui tam attorneys at The Employment Law Group ® law firm are experienced in filing False Claims Act lawsuits — and we work closely with the U.S. Department of Justice, which investigates these whistleblower claims. Our firm is a recognized leader in FCA whistleblower law; our attorneys frequently speak and write on the topic.
Who is the qui tam attorney in Oberg V Nelnet?
Oberg v. Nelnet, Inc. TELG Client Jon Oberg discovered that student lender Nelnet received improperly high payments on student loans. TELG filed a qui tam action under the false claims act and Nelnet eventually settled for $55 million. Farrow v.