There are stories on the news about companies that regularly defraud the government. Often, these acts cost taxpayers millions of dollars. However, the ability to police these contractors is limited, which has led to Congress establishing the False Claims Act.
Under this act, citizens are empowered to provide evidence of fraud to the government and pursue a lawsuit to recover a reward. This action—a qui tam lawsuit—allows that person to keep a portion of what is recovered from the fraudulent company.
A South Carolina qui tam whistleblower lawyer could advise you on the benefits of blowing a whistle on corruption. Schedule an initial consultation with a seasoned whistleblower attorney today.
Qui tam lawsuits involve false claims made by private companies that do business with the state or federal government. These actions might include requests for payment for services that were never rendered or for charging twice for the same work. Some companies submit false paperwork, while others make verbal misrepresentations.
The basis for this type of lawsuit is the False Claims Act. Federal law bars any party from knowingly providing a false claim for payment to a government agency. The law further authorizes a rewards system that pays whistleblowers money directly when their tips lead to successful collection actions.
Almost any adult citizen can act as a whistleblower under the False Claims Act. Not all of them are eligible for a reward, though. For example, any participants in the fraudulent scheme are prohibited from profiting from tips to the government. Law enforcement officers and other individuals required by law to report fraud are also barred from recovering any monetary award. A qui tam whistleblower attorney in South Carolina could provide more information on eligibility during a consultation.
Anyone who discovers evidence of a False Claims Act violation can immediately report those details to the appropriate government agency. Following this, they can file a complaint with the branch of the United States District Court in their jurisdiction. A South Carolina lawyer could file this qui tam action on behalf of a whistleblower.
The complaint must contain specific information about the details of the fraudulent actions. It should clarify that the plaintiff has information about a false claim and intends to collect a reward if used in a successful prosecution. By formally demanding the reward, the court process officially begins.
These complaints form the basis of a viable claim for a reward, so the details must be correct. The information provided to the government should spell out the names of the responsible parties, the dates of their fraudulent activity, and any other evidence that proves that wrongdoing occurred.
Not every tip will result in a reward. For a whistleblower to get a payout from the government, the information they provide must lead to a successful prosecution or administrative action. The government will then recover a portion of anything recovered from the party that committed fraud.
If you have proof that the government has been defrauded, offering this information could yield a monetary reward. A South Carolina qui tam whistleblower lawyer could help you do the right thing and secure a financial award.
Call as soon as possible to schedule your confidential consultation with one of our hardworking legal professionals.
