Each year, the United States government and American taxpayers lose billions of dollars due to corporate fraud and crimes against the government and its agencies. When businesses or employers engage in activities that break laws or ordinances or defraud the government, an employee of the company or other person with inside knowledge of the company’s fraudulent or criminal behavior has the right to report those actions.
Those who report companies engaging in illegal behavior are often referred to as whistleblowers, and whistleblowers may be able to bring a claim against the company in the name of the government under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act. In qui tam cases where defrauded funds are successfully recovered by the government, whistleblowers may receive between 15 to 30 percent of the recovered funds.
If you have proof of a company committing fraud against the government or otherwise engaging in illegal activity, you may be able to file a whistleblower lawsuit. Contact the Ohio qui tam lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei LLP today for a free, confidential whistleblower case evaluation.
What is the False Claims Act?
The False Claims Act is a federal whistleblower law that was enacted in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War as a way to address the military contracting fraud that was taking place. During the civil war, it was apparent that wartime suppliers were providing substandard goods and services to the U.S. military. Today, the False Claims Act is still the primary way the United States government fights corporate fraud.
Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers who come forward with evidence of fraud or other illegal activity are granted protections from employer retaliation and are eligible for a financial reward of a percentage of recovered funds.
What is a Qui Tam Lawsuit?
The False Claims Act has a “qui tam” provision that allows private citizens, sometimes called qui tam relators, to file the qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the United States government.
Under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act, whistleblowers or qui tam relators may be rewarded for exposing corporate fraud or illegal behavior if the whistleblower case is successful in recovering defrauded or stolen funds. If the confidential information that the whistleblower brings forward leads to the whistleblower case being successfully prosecuted, qui tam relators are awarded a financial reward of between 15 to 30 percent of the total funds that are successfully recovered. These awards can be financially substantial because under the False Claims Act the criminal business or cooperation is liable for civil penalties as well as treble damages.
What Protections are Available to Ohio Whistleblowers?
Under the False Claims Act and the qui tam provision, employees, contractors, and agents are protected from retaliation from their employer when they become a whistleblower. Employer retaliation may include termination, demotion, suspension, harassment, threats, or any other form of discrimination against the whistleblower for coming forward with evidence of corporate crimes. Whistleblowers who experience retaliation may be eligible for compensation.
If a whistleblower is retaliated against, under the False Claims Act the whistleblower is entitled to “all necessary relief to make the employee whole” which can include reinstatement if terminated or demoted, two times the amount of back pay plus added interest on the back pay, attorney’s fees, litigation costs, and sometimes compensation for special damages.
If you have been retaliated against for becoming a qui tam relator, contact the Ohio qui tam lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei LLP today for a free and confidential legal consultation. One of our qualified whistleblower attorneys can help you understand your options for legal recourse.
What Are Examples of Ohio Qui Tam Lawsuits?
Fraud may occur in any sector that uses government contracts. Common examples of qui tam cases include:
- Healthcare fraud (may include Medicare and Medicaid fraud)
- Government contract fraud
- Banking fraud
- Securities fraud
- Environmental fraud
- Tax fraud
Do I Need an Ohio Qui Tam Lawyer?
Whistleblower and qui tam law can be complex and difficult to navigate, so it is advisable to consult with an experienced qui tam law firm when pursuing a whistleblower case. A qualified Ohio qui tam lawyer will be able to:
- Evaluate your qui tam claim and determine if it is strong enough to bring a successful qui tam lawsuit.
- Assist you in filing the whistleblower lawsuit under the correct whistleblower program.
- Work to motivate the government to come on to your case, increasing the likelihood of successful recovery of defrauded funds.
- Help you navigate each step of litigation and ensure your rights are protected.
About Tycko & Zavareei LLP
At Tycko & Zavareei LLP, our qui tam attorneys are nationally recognized for their contributions in whistleblower cases across the country and have helped whistleblowers in recovering billions of dollars of defrauded funds. Our whistleblower law firm strives to help whistleblowers expose corporate fraud and illegal activity in order to protect taxpayer dollars and in turn, make the country a better place. Our Ohio qui tam attorneys know the ins and outs of qui tam law, having decades of experience representing whistleblowers across the country. Some of our attorneys have also previously worked for the Department of Justice.
Contact an Ohio Qui Tam Lawyer
Our qui tam law firm seeks to help whistleblowers collect and report valuable information that may lead to the successful recovery of funds. Our whistleblower attorneys understand that qui tam relators may be reluctant to come forward with proof of corporate fraud may be hesitant to come forward due to fear of employer retaliation, but our law firm is fully prepared to protect whistleblowers to the fullest extent under the False Claims Act.
If you believe you have proof of corporate fraud against the government or its agencies, you may be entitled to a financial award if your tip leads to recovered funds. Contact the Ohio qui tam lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei LLP today to set up a free, confidential qui tam case evaluation.
