False Claims Act
Fighting for Whistleblowers Who Report Frauds against the Government
The False Claims Act is the government’s primary fraud fighting tool. It empowers and rewards whistleblowers who file lawsuits on behalf of the government to recover taxpayer dollars that were lost due to fraud. These types of claims target, for example:- Medical providers who falsely billed government funded healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, including billing for services that were not provided, medically unnecessary services, or services that resulted from illegal kickbacks
- Drug and medical device makers who falsely marketed products paid for by government funded healthcare programs or who paid kickbacks
- Government contractors who falsely billed the government for faulty or nonexistent goods or work, or who engaged in bid rigging, or who violated other promises such as agreements to pay prevailing wages or hire disabled workers
- Contractors who violated environmental rules while carrying out their government contracts
- Financial firms that misrepresented the quality and value of their financial products to get government guarantees
- Big banks and others who misinformed the government about payments they owe to the government
- Importers who falsifed the nature of their goods to avoid customs duties
Some states allow qui tam cases about tax violations. Please see our description of tax whistleblower programs for a discussion of those claims.
Kirby McInerney’s False Claims Act Practice
Kirby McInerney fights for whistleblowers with knowledge of frauds committed against the government. We have extensive experience in these cases: we have partnered with government investigators on cases where the government has intervened, and we have successfully pursued strong cases where the government has declined them. Our team brings together extensive government and anti-fraud litigation experience to represent whistleblowers in recovering monies ripped off from the federal, state and local governments.
About the False Claims Act
Who Can Be a False Claims Act Whistleblower?
The key to being a whistleblower is having non-public information about fraud committed against the government. There are few limitations on who can be a whistleblower, though persons who come forward with high quality, timely information are more likely to receive an award at the end of the case. You should consult with experienced whistleblower counsel to examine whether you have a whistleblower claim and what it will mean to you to be a whistleblower.
Whistleblower Awards under the False Claims Act
A successful whistleblower generally is entitled to an award of between 15% and 30% of the government’s monetary recovery in a False Claims Act case. Where the government intervenes in (or, takes over) the case, the awards are between 15% and 25%. Where the government declines the case and the whistleblower continues with it and achieves a recovery, the awards are between 25% and 30%. The percentages differ under some state False Claims Acts.
How to Bring a False Claims Act Case
A False Claims Act case begins with the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of the government. Unlike a traditional lawsuit, the complaint is not served upon the defendant, but upon the government, and it is initially kept confidential. The government can then investigate the claims and decide whether to take over the claims or decline them. At the start of the case, the whistleblower must also provide the government investigators with any evidence he or she has related to the claims. Particularly, where a whistleblower has substantial information about the inner workings of the defendant, he or she can provide invaluable assistance to the government in pursuing the claims.
How to Prove a False Claims Act Violation
Most False Claims Act violations fit within two general categories that differ based on the direction in which money flows. “Direct false claims” involve false claims that were submitted to the government to get the government to pay for items or services. “Reverse false claims” involve payments required to be made to the government.Proving a direct false claim violation typically requires demonstrating that a claim was made for payment by the government (such as by an invoice to a government agency), the claim was knowingly false, and the falsity was material to the government.
Proving a reverse false claim violation typically requires demonstrating that the defendant made records or statements that were knowingly false and were material to an obligation to pay money or property to the government.