We have all heard of the whistleblower laws. Most people vaguely understand what they are. Beyond the fact that the laws are in place to protect those who call out wrongdoing, most people have no clue about them. But if you want to earn some money, keep reading, because if your situation applies, you could profit by being a whistleblower. Federal False Claims Act The Federal False Claims Act was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln back in the 1860’s. This law was designed to combat those who were attempting to defraud the government (mostly by selling bogus, faulty, or non-existent supplies). This law contained an important clause: the Qui Tam clause. Qui Tam Clause The clause actually stems from a much older idea dating back to the middle ages. It is a condensed Latin phrase which roughly means, “to sue on behalf of the king.” The idea was that few people would readily put themselves in danger by turning in those who are defrauding the government. To help alleviate this pressure, a monetary reward is offered. Filing a Whistleblower Lawsuit If you know of fraud that is costing the government money, you can file a qui tam, or a whistleblower lawsuit . Working closely with a qui tam attorney you can expose the fraud, and earn up to 25% of the settlement that is levied against the perpetrator. For big cases, this can be a substantial amount of money. Getting Started with Your Qui Tam Lawsuit If you fit the scenario, you need to make sure you have adequate evidence (or at least reason to believe fraud is occurring). Then you just need to contact a qui tam attorney and they will help you get the ball rolling. Don’t worry, you have rights as a whistleblower that protect you against retaliation from your employer.
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