Qui Tam Attorneys
If you have information concerning fraud, waste, or abuse of taxpayer dollars, you may be able to do something about it. “Blowing the whistle” can be complex and confusing, as it often implicates many different statutes and regulatory requirements, and it can be subject to many procedural rules. But it can be worth the effort as whistleblowers may be entitled to share in the government’s recovery. If you are aware of fraud against the government and are interested in taking legal action, our attorneys may be able to help you navigate the process.
What are Qui Tam Lawsuits?
Lawsuits brought by private citizens on behalf of the federal, state, or local government are called "qui tam" lawsuits. A whistleblower who brings a lawsuit on behalf of the government is called a “relator.” The relator, along with their attorney, steps into the shoes of the government when they file a lawsuit.
Depending on which laws are being violated, most qui tam actions are brought under the federal False Claims Act, and/or similar state or local laws. Minnesota and California are two states, among others, that have FCA equivalent statutes to help protect state funds against fraud.
Qui tam actions often involve allegations of fraud by government contractors and/or participants in government programs. Fraud against the government can occur in many different industries and settings. For example, fraud can be found relating to government health care programs, military or defense contracts, government grants, and pro-profit education.
Types of Fraud
Health care fraud is one of the leading problems addressed by FCA litigation. Examples of health care fraud may include:
- Providing kickbacks to physicians in exchange for referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS)
- Self-dealings in violation of the Stark Law
- False, inflated, or bundled billing or coding for healthcare services
- Billing for medically unnecessary services or services that were never provided
Fraud relating defense contracts include:
- Failure to comply with contract terms
- Product substitution
- Substandard products/services
And, fraud relating to education and grants include:
- Use of grant funds on projects outside the scope of the grant
- Failure to comply with the Higher Education Act by for-profit schools receiving federal funds, including by inflating job placement and graduation rates and/or by paying bonuses to staff to increase enrolment.
These examples are for illustration purposes only. This is not an exhaustive list. It is important to discuss the specific facts of your situation with an experienced attorney to determine what claims you may have.
Our team of passionate, talented professionals work every day on advancing and protecting people's rights in individual cases and class actions. No entity is too big to play fair, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our firm to discuss the details of your situation.
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Practice Areas
We fight for employees & consumers nationwide with expertise in employment rights, wage issues, financial services, and civil rights litigation. Our focused approach to complex class actions & individual cases keeps us at the cutting edge of plaintiff-side law.
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Cases
We've shaped legal precedents at the highest levels, including the Supreme Court. With resources to challenge powerful entities of any size, our experience in landmark litigation equips us to handle both individual cases and complex class actions.
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Our People
Our nationally acclaimed team of passionate legal strategists works relentlessly to protect rights in the workplace, marketplace, and government institutions. Our attorneys combine deep expertise with genuine compassion to deliver powerful representation.