When Can a Whistleblower File?
According to the law, a person wanting to bring forward a lawsuit under the False Claims Act must make sure that their opportunity to file has not elapsed. This restriction is in place because of a legal principle known as the statute of limitations. According to the statute of limitations, a person can’t bring forward a lawsuit after a certain amount of time has passed. With qui tam lawsuits, or when a whistleblower has information about government fraud, this limitation is clearly set.
If you have information regarding an instance of government contractor fraud, we may be able to help you with your claim to make sure that you are eligible to file. For more information regarding your qui tam lawsuit options, contact a knowledgeable qui tam lawyer of Tycko & Zavareei, LLP, at 202-973-0900 today.
Defining the Statute of Limitations in Qui Tam Cases
For instances of government contractor fraud, the statute of limitations has several different deadlines regarding qui tam lawsuits. According to the courts, whistleblowers need to file by the following deadlines:
- 6 years from the instance of fraud
- 3 years from when the government should have discovered or did discover the fraud
- Never more than 10 years from the instance of fraud
While many whistleblowers are ineligible to file after 6 years, some cases can be extended to the 10-year mark. However, after 10 years have passed, a whistleblower will no longer have the opportunity to file against that contractor.
Contact Us
If you’re considering a qui tam lawsuit against a government contractor, our legal advisors may be able to help you. To discuss your options in more detail with an experienced lawyer, contact a qui tam attorney of Tycko & Zavareei, LLP, by calling 202-973-0900 today.
