Allegations of military contractor fraudcan be brought by a whistleblower. Whistleblowers often clue the government in to various types of fraud, including in healthcare and other government programs.

Since defense contractors around the country do significant business and are paid with taxpayer money, the government encourages those who learn of fraudulent actions to come forward with information to protect government funding and ultimately the American taxpayer.

Whistleblowers may also receive a portion of any award obtained through a False Claims Act lawsuit or settlement. Whistleblowers are also entitled to protection from retaliation on the part of an employer company that learns about the report. These protections are in place to increase the chances that a whistleblower will make a report.

Military Contractor Fraud Allegations

The United States has recently joined several lawsuits over allegations of military contractor fraud.

All of these lawsuits have been filed against one company — Tetra Tech EC. Inc. The military contractor fraud lawsuits claim that Tetra Tech sent false claims to the United States Navy for support services and radiological remediation for a San Francisco shipyard.

The New Jersey-based Tetra Tech allegedly received contracts from the United States Navy to test various land parcels at the Hunter’s Point Naval Ship Yard to determine whether or not radiation existed. The company was also responsible for remediating any areas with excessive radiation.

The military contractor fraud lawsuits argue that Tetra Tech failed to accurately represent the soil sample sources that were used for radiological testing. The whistleblower lawsuits allege that company officials substituted non-radioactive dirt taken from other locations within the formal naval base rather than using soil samples from the survey units undergoing analysis.

Additionally the lawsuits argue that the company falsified data used in the radiological surveys submitted to the federal government.

Two different Tetra Tech supervisors already plead guilty to claims of falsifying records. These individuals have reportedly received prison time as part of these military contractor fraud allegations.

The whistleblower lawsuits were filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. This law allows private individuals who become aware of instances of fraud, including military contractor fraud, to initiate legal action on behalf of the United States for false claims. Whistleblowers who are successful in bringing cases like this may be eligible to receive a portion of the recovery redeemed from fraud cases. The United States is also eligible to intervene in a whistleblower lawsuit after a private person has initiated litigation.

In these three different whistleblower lawsuits linked to military contractor fraud, the United States has chosen to become involved and will reportedly pursue compensation for the alleged fraud. In a statement issued by the Department of Justice, representatives noted that the department will take necessary action against any individuals who obtained federal funds based on promises that they did not intend to keep or based on other fraudulent actions.