People who believe they have witnessed their employer committing fraud against the government, are encouraged to file a qui tam lawsuit, also known as a whistleblower lawsuit.

A whistleblower is an individual who is willing to report their employers who have committed financial fraud against the government, often defrauding the government of millions of dollars.

The nature of fraud can vary but it is most commonly Medicare fraud, Medical fraud, health insurance fraud, and government contractor fraud. Employees who file qui tam lawsuits not only help the government recover significant financial losses, they encourage other individuals to report the unscrupulous activity.

If qui tam lawsuits are successful, the government will typically share 15 percent to 30 percent of the losses recovered from the qui tam lawsuit with the whistleblower.

Potential plaintiffs who believe they have witnessed such government fraud are encouraged to contact a qui tam lawyer as soon as possible, and to keep any relevant records organized.

However, before a whistleblower claim is filed through a qui tam lawyer, it is important to properly understand what the lawsuit is and the filing process that comes with it.

Overview of Qui Tam Lawsuit Process

According to legal experts, a qui tam lawsuit definition is when an individual files a whistleblower claim under the False Claims Act. The individual who files the qui tam lawsuit is called the “relator”, another word for whistleblower, which can be any person related to the business allegedly committing the fraud.

It is important to note that qui tam lawsuits cannot be based on public knowledge, unless the whistleblower is the source of the allegations. The qui tam provision originated when the False Claim Act was established during Civil War era, meant to protect the United States Government against fraud.

The qui tam lawsuit definition has changed slightly through the years as the act has been amended several times throughout history. Currently, American citizens can sue an individual or business that is committing government fraud under the False Claims Act.

When a whistleblower claim is actually filed, it is sent directly to the Justice Department to confirm that the suit meets the qui tam lawsuit definition. These claims are kept confidential while the government determines if the claim is valid and also allows the government to choose whether or not to pursue the lawsuit.

The government has up to 60 days to review the qui tam lawsuit, but this time may be extended depending on the circumstances.

It is important to note that the first whistleblower to file a qui tam lawsuit will be the most significant to the court, even if a later one is more detailed. This is to encourage potential whistleblowers to file legal action as quickly as possible.

There are laws to protect whistleblowers from their employers, as their employers cannot fire, demote, or discriminate against them.

Overall qui tam lawyers encourage any potential whistleblower to take action, pointing out that whistleblowers will remain anonymous until the claim is resolved.