Where To File a Qui Tam Lawsuit
Qui Tam lawsuits help the government catch businesses that fraudulently obtain and/or use government funds.
Since the initiation of the False Claims Act, whistleblowers, those who turn the businesses in, have helped the government reclaim over $12 billion in misused funds. Of that $12 billion, over $1 billion of that has been returned to the whistleblowers for financial compensation. Qui Tam lawsuits have the potential to be very lucrative, but certain steps must be taken when filing. Perhaps the most important part is to know how, where, and when to file.
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Whistleblower lawsuits must be taken care of quickly. The False Claims Act gives whistleblowers no more than 10 years from the first violation. 6 years is often the deadline. Only one whistleblower or whistleblower groups can file for a Qui Tam lawsuit against a single violator. If someone else beats you to reporting the violation, you’ve lost your chance. The other party will reap the rewards, leaving you with nothing.
Once you have decided to go ahead with filing a lawsuit, perhaps the most important thing you can do is to hire a qualified Quit Tam attorney or law firm. The attorneys at these firms will help guide you through the process filing your lawsuits. Not only will a reputable firm confirm if you have ample evidence to convict a violating business, many will only take payment if you win the case. Make sure to read the fine print, though, or you may be in for a financially devastating surprise should the case be lost.
Where and how you file depends on the type of whistleblower lawsuit you have on hand. Lawsuits involving environmental issues will be filed to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Those who want to turn in discriminatory lawsuits must report to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) handles suits involving retaliation. If you are unsure of what type of suit you may have on your hands, contact a lawyer.
After having spoken about the Qui Tam lawsuit with a lawyer, the next step is to file the complaint. You may file to one of the agencies listed above, or your lawyer may have you file with a federal district court. Whatever the case, the suit will be filed confidentially. Not even the business in question will be informed about the suit. This gives the government time to investigate the case and decide if they will go along with the conviction. You must provide all evidence in your possession will be filed in a court and given to a U.S. attorney General.
Contact Our Whistleblower Lawyers Today »
Does all this sound confusing? It can be, which is why our law firm is here to help. We are very familiar with the False Claims Act and specialize in Whistleblower lawsuits. Let our experienced attorneys help guide you through the process of filing, pursuing, and winning your case. Remember, exposing spending fraud not only has the potential to be very lucrative, it is the right thing to do.
