How are attorneys’ fees and expenses paid in False Claims Act cases?

A qui tam lawsuit can take hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of hours of attorney time. If you had to pay the attorneys on an hourly basis, the fees would become prohibitive to most potential qui tam relators. Many attorneys who handle qui tam cases under the False Claims Act are willing to do for a “contingency fee.” This means that the attorneys do not charge by the hour for their time. Instead, they agree to accept a percentage of your recovery as their fee, and they take on the risk that, if you do not obtain any recovery, they will not be paid. Some attorneys may also agree to advance (or, in some cases, completely cover) the expenses of the litigation. Different attorneys may be willing to offer different terms. If you are seriously considering a qui tam lawsuit, you may wish to talk to a number of different attorneys, and find one that you believe is both competent and willing to offer you an acceptable contingency fee arrangement.

For more information on qui tam lawsuits, contact the qui tam lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei, LLP today at 202-973-0900.