Los Angeles Whistleblower (Qui Tam) Attorney – False Claims Act Litigation
The current False Claims Act statute originated in 1863 for the purpose of punishing military contractors who knowingly presented fraudulent or false claims to the U.S. Government for the payment of money. As the story goes, profiteers were selling inferior equipment to the Union Army at highly inflated prices. Some manufacturers of musket balls were charging the government for full boxes, but, in fact, were delivering boxes only half-full! As a consequence, the U.S. Government has authorized the bringing of a lawsuit by a private plaintiff (relator) on behalf of the Federal Government, rather than by the Government itself.
In general, the FCA covers fraud involving any federally funded contract or program. The most notable include actions against Medicare/health care providers and defense contractors. The primary activities that constitute violations of the FCA are:
a. knowingly submitting false or fraudulent claims for payment of federal funds;
b. knowingly making a false record or statement to get a false or fraudulent claim paid or approved by the Federal Government;
c. knowingly making a false record or statement to conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit property to the federal Government; and
d. conspiring to defraud the Federal Government by getting a false or fraudulent claim allowed or paid.
An example might include a contractor falsifying test results or other information regarding the quality, specifications or costs of products or services it sells to the Government. Another example would be a health care provider billing Medicare or Medicaid for services that were not actually rendered or were unnecessary.
A private plaintiff (relator), suing on behalf of the Government, can receive between 15% and 30% of the total recovery from the defendant, whether as a result of a favorable judgment or an out of court settlement. However, the FCA action must be filed within six (6) years from the date of the violation of the Act or three (3) years after the Government knows or should have known about the violation, but in no event longer than ten (10) years after the violation.
If someone else files a FCA lawsuit or helps publicize allegations similar to yours, you may lose your right to bring a qui tam action. If the Government or another private individual has already filed a FCA lawsuit on the same allegations as the action you want to file, the statute bars you from bringing your lawsuit. Therefore, it is to your advantage to proceed post haste.
If you have reliable evidence (i.e. documentary, computer generated, etc.) of any false or fraudulent claims or demands in excess of $1 million submitted to and paid by the U.S. Government to any company, Medicare provider, aerospace/defense contractor or other payee, you may be entitled to 30% of the amount recovered under a little known law (i.e. $10 million paid to a defense contractor or Medicare provider based on false or fraudulent statements could equal $3 million to you!) Remember, you won’t get paid if you call the local news or report same to the government directly. You must initiate your own legal action. Fraud costs us all. If you want to stop this abuse and get well rewarded in the process, contact our office now for experienced Whistleblower Attorney. Don’t let someone else beat you to the reward.
Click here to use our online Consultation Request Form.
