FALSE CLAIMS ACT VIOLATIONS

What is False Claims Act?

The Federal False Claims Act ("the Act") covers just about any situation where a person or organization is "ripping off" the U.S. Government. Tax evasion is the only exception.

The Act allows a private citizen to sue the wrongdoer in order to recover money for the United States Treasury.  If there is a recovery, the Act provides that the whistleblower can receive a percentage as a reward.

Pre-Suit Checklist

If you are a potential "relator" there are several points to consider prior to our filing a "Qui Tam" whistleblower suit:

1.  Does the matter involve a claim for money in connection with a Federal program or agency?

2.  Can you show that the potential defendant(s) intentionally defrauded the Government, rather than made an honest mistake or committed a technical violation?

3.  Are you reasonably sure that your information was not obtained from a public source?

4.  Is the fraudulent activity ongoing or at least has it occurred fairly recently (within the past six years)?

5.  Do you believe that you did nothing wrong, if you did, that you were just doing what higher level people told you to do?

6.  Do you have at least some first-hand knowledge about the fraudulent activity?

7.  Are you willing to go through a long ordeal before your case is resolved?

8. Is there a way to corroborate your information (documents, witnesses, evidence, etc.)?

9.  Can you accept the fact that at some point it is likely that your role as a whistleblower will be revealed to the defendant(s) and made public?

10.  Do you realize that once you start a False Claim Act suit the U.S. Government will investigate, and may sue civilly, or prosecute criminally?