Every year the government awards billions of dollars in government contracts to companies working in the disaster relief, defense, and healthcare industries. While many of the companies working in these fields are ethical, there are a significant number of bad actors. Through various underhanded ways, these companies defraud or attempt to defraud the government out of billions of dollars every year.
Because the federal government cannot possibly prevent every misuse and misappropriation of funds, legislation has been enacted to encourage and empower workers in those industries susceptible to fraud to step up and report wrongdoing.
However, even though the law is there to protect the brave individuals who expose fraud, taking that first step can be challenging. The good news is that an Arlington qui tam lawyer can help ease the process of blowing the whistle on fraud. The attorneys at Tycko & Zavareei LLP have successfully handled whistleblower cases all over the country for years. We have the legal expertise and experience to evaluate your case and determine your best next step.
Qui Tam Cases
A whistleblower is also known as a qui tam relator. They bring what is known as a qui tam lawsuit against an individual or company on behalf of the government. At their core, whistleblower cases involve an individual reporting misuse or misappropriation of federal funds.
Furthermore, qui tam cases are governed by a blend of federal and state laws and feature a number of different procedural rules and regulations depending on your industry and which state you file the lawsuit in.
Common Types of Fraud in Arlington, VA
The healthcare industry is where a majority of qui tam cases originate. While every qui tam case is unique, there are several common types of fraud committed within the healthcare industry, including:
- Upcoding: When a healthcare professional bills for more expensive services and procedures than were actually performed or rendered.
- Double billing: When a doctor or administrator bills two insurance companies for one procedure.
- False claims: In some cases, a healthcare provider will fabricate information in order to bill an insurance company for services not rendered.
- Kickbacks: In some cases, doctors will receive financial kickbacks, including monetary payments or gifts like vacations, for prescribing certain medications or patient referrals.
Healthcare fraud is certainly an issue in Arlington, but so is fraud within the contractor and defense contractor industries. Though these industries may differ from the healthcare industry in significant ways, the fraud committed in each can sometimes look the same with some of the most common examples being charging too much for the materials used in a project and billing for more hours than were actually worked.
Though you may suspect one of the types of fraud listed above (or another kind of fraud not listed) you may not be sure whether you have sufficient evidence to prove that the fraud is actually happening. If this applies to you, consider contacting Tycko & Zavareei LLP for a free and confidential case evaluation. One of our qui tam lawyers can help advise you on the types of evidence you should obtain for a successful case.
Arlington Qui Tam Laws
Just like the rest of the country, qui tam cases in Arlington are governed by the False Claims Act. Enacted during the Civil War in an attempt to stop fraud committed by government contractors, this law has two key provisions:
- Protection for whistleblowers: According to the False Claims Act, an employer cannot retaliate when an employee blows the whistle on fraud. This means you are protected from being fired, suspended, demoted, relocated, or having your hours reduced for reporting fraud.
- Financial incentive: The False Claims Act recognizes that it can be difficult to speak out against fraud committed by your coworkers or superiors. In order to incentivize individuals to blow the whistle, the Act allows for a financial award of between 15 and 30 percent of the funds recovered.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has its own, relatively strong whistleblower laws as well, which permit residents to sue individuals and companies for committing fraud not only on behalf of the Commonwealth but also on behalf of city and town governments.
Largely modeled after the federal False Claims Act, the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act also includes civil penalties and the ability for whistleblowers to collect between 15-30 percent of funds recovered.
How Can an Arlington Qui Tam Lawyer Help You?
Qui tam cases can be complex, as they include elements of federal and state law, and the rules and procedures can vary somewhat depending on the industry the whistleblower works in. A skilled Arlington qui tam attorney can help you navigate the intricate complexities of this area of law.
An experienced whistleblower lawyer in the Arlington area can evaluate your case and advise you on the types of evidence to obtain in order to build a strong case on your behalf. They will also make sure you are shielded from retaliation and that your employer adheres to all provisions of the False Claims Act meant to protect you from retaliation.
However, where a seasoned qui tam lawyer can really be beneficial is when it comes to compensation. Like any civil court case, qui tam cases in Arlington need the eye of an expert in order to maximize the chances of success.
Contact an Arlington Qui Tam Attorney
If you are thinking about becoming a whistleblower, consider contacting Tycko & Zavareei LLP for a free and confidential case evaluation. An Arlington qui tam lawyer would know how to help you report and stop fraud and protect your interests throughout the litigation.
We have successfully recovered millions of dollars in the types of fraud cases listed above and would be happy to represent you as you seek to end fraud in your workplace.
