Qui tam claims are lawsuits filed by private citizens on behalf of the government to recover money obtained by fraudulent means. If you are aware of a company that has committed fraud against the government, you can become a whistleblower and initiate a qui tam claim. In most cases, whistleblowers are employees of the company committing the fraud.
Choosing to become a whistleblower and report evidence that your employer may be committing fraud against the government is a noble act. Our government lacks the time and resources necessary to ferret out all instances of fraud, and they rely on whistleblowers to help them with this important role.
Laws Governing Qui Tam Claims
The vast majority of qui tam claims are governed by the False Claims Act, a federal law which permits whistleblowers to file a lawsuit on the government’s behalf to recover damages associated with fraudulent actions relating to a false claim. Often, these cases involve vendors who have made a false claim against the government for payment of goods or services.
The False Claims Act provides a strong incentive for whistleblowers to come forward with their knowledge of fraud against the government. If the qui tam case is successful, the whistleblower may be entitled to receive 15-30% of the government’s total recovery. In addition, the False Claims Act protects whistleblowers from retaliation by their employer.
The state of Illinois also provides additional protections and incentives for qui tam claims filed in a state jurisdiction. These cases are governed by the Illinois Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act.
Types of Qui Tam Claims
Just about any type of fraud against the government can result in the filing of a qui tam claim. In many instances, these cases are filed as class action lawsuits.
Common types of qui tam cases involve:
- Pharmaceutical fraud
- Healthcare fraud
- Financial industry fraud
- Defense contractor fraud
- Government grant and research fraud
- Procurement fraud
- General services administration fraud
- Department of education fraud
Experienced Qui Tam Representation
If you have knowledge of fraud committed against the government, the Chicago qui tam attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates can help you with the filing of your claim. Our attorneys will launch a thorough investigation to help you build your case. We will also work closely with the government throughout the process to ensure you maximize your whistleblower reward.
Please contact Harvey L. Walner & Associates today to schedule your free qui tam consultation. We serve class action clients nationwide from our offices in Chicago, Illinois.