The False Claims Act allows people to serve as whistleblowers for the purpose of exposing fraudulent activity. The federal government recognizes that it lacks the resources to identify every instance of fraud. As a result, it incentivizes people to come forward by offering rewards to whistleblowers. To receive these rewards, filing a Qui Tam suit in Columbia is necessary.
A Qui Tam suit informs the government that you intend to receive a reward in exchange for your information. However, this information must be of sufficient quality and you must cooperate fully with the entirety of the investigation. If you accomplish this, you may receive between 15 and 25 percent of the funds that the government recovers in the case. A Qui Tam attorney could provide more information about filing a Qui Tam suit in Columbia and what this involves.
A collection of federal laws aims to regulate the activities of individuals and companies. A prime example is the False Claims Act. According to 31 United States Code § 3729, is it illegal for any party to knowingly submit a false claim for payment to any government agency. Furthermore, 31 United States Code § 3730(c)(5) authorizes the payment of rewards to individuals who act as whistleblowers under the False Claims Act. In this way, the Act forms the basis for Qui Tam suits that seek out rewards for whistleblowers.
People who observe apparent violations of the False Claims Act have the ability to file complaints with the local branch of the United States District Court. This complaint should outline the information that a whistleblower has to offer to the government and must clearly state their intention to seek a reward. This demand for a reward is the formal filing of a Qui Tam suit in Columbia.
It is vital to be as precise as possible when filing these complaints, since it will form the basis for the investigation and a subsequent demand for a reward. Having clear information concerning names, dates, and activities will help the relevant investigatory agencies be able to act more swiftly and take one’s demand for payment more seriously. A lawyer could help create and submit these complaints in the proper manner.
Any person can serve as a whistleblower reporting a violation of the False Claims Act. However, only a limited segment of the population will be eligible to collect a reward. From the outset, active participants in the criminal scheme are ineligible. This would result in rewards for illegal acts, which is not the message that the government wants to be sending.
Similarly, members of law enforcement who have a preexisting duty to report criminal activity cannot claim a reward. In addition, members of regulatory agencies cannot demand Qui Tam rewards. Any other person can submit a complaint that has a reasonable chance to result in a reward should the information lead to a conviction.
Qui Tam suits serve as a formal demand for compensation following a conviction under the False Claims Act. Parties who supply information that leads to a conviction that recovers funds are entitled to between 15 and 25 percent of the value of the case. That being said, there are limitations to this program. Members of the law enforcement community can never demand rewards, nor can active participants in the criminal activity being reported.
If you believe that you have information that would make you eligible for a reward, reach out to an attorney today. They could help you better understand how to file a Qui Tam suit in Columbia and collect your reward.
