Any attempts to claim more money from the U.S. and California State governments is not only illegal but it hurts residents who pay taxes and rely on government-funded programs. If you become privy to fraudulent activity within your organization, you may feel overwhelmed about whether or not to speak up and who to consult. A qualified Sacramento qui tam lawyer can help you understand how to report fraud and the benefits of doing so. Sacramento whistleblowers may be eligible for significant financial rewards if their tips result in successful investigations and recovery of stolen funds.
At Tycko & Zavareei LLP, we are ready to help you navigate how to blow the whistle on fraud and file a qui tam lawsuit. Schedule a free, confidential consultation with us today to get started with your case.
What is a Qui Tam Lawsuit?
A qui tam lawsuit is also commonly called a whistleblower lawsuit. In this type of lawsuit, a person sues a company or group on behalf of the federal or state government. This person, also called a whistleblower, will have insider information about illegal attempts to claim or withhold money from the government. Often, they are employees who notice illegal billing schemes, misuse and waste of government funding, false statements made to obtain grants or government contracts, tax evasion, and more.
When individuals discover that fraud is happening in their company or that another company they work closely with, they can come forward with this information by filing a qui tam lawsuit. In many cases, instances of fraud are only discovered because of the brave actions of whistleblowers.
How Do the Federal and California False Claims Acts Fight Fraud?
The False Claims Act allows whistleblowers to sue companies who commit fraud on behalf of the U.S. federal government. If the qui tam lawsuit is successful, whistleblowers are able to collect a certain percentage of the recovered amount. This percentage of the recovered amount acts as an incentive for people to help expose fraud and keep companies honest.
Some states have enacted similar laws that allow people to file whistleblower lawsuits on behalf of the state government. The California False Claims Act allows residents to sue on behalf of the California government. The California False Claims Act is one of the strongest in the nation and helps penalize false claims made to the California government and its programs and agencies. Similar to the federal law, Sacramento residents may receive a financial reward for blowing the whistle on fraud under the California False Claims Act.
In addition to financial awards, Sacramento whistleblowers are also protected from possible retaliation by their employers.
What are Examples of Sacramento Qui Tam Lawsuits?
Attempts to falsify or withhold information from the U.S. or California state governments may be penalized under the False Claims Act by filing a qui tam lawsuit.
Qui tam lawsuits most commonly involve the following types of false claims and fraud:
- Healthcare Fraud: Including overbilling Medicare or Medicaid, billing for services and procedures never performed, paying or receiving kickbacks in exchange for Medicare or Medicaid business, and more
- Government Contractor Fraud: Making false statements in order to obtain government contracts, failing to deliver services as outlined in a contract, or misrepresenting how funds are used and allocated
- Other Government Programs Fraud: Other illegal attempts to claim money from the government include making false statements to obtain government-funded grants, loans, insurance, and more
How Much is My Sacramento Qui Tam Case Worth?
The exact amount you may recover from a successful qui tam lawsuit will vary. It will depend on the type and severity of the fraud involved as well as how long the scheme occurred.
Under the federal False Claims Act, whistleblowers may be entitled to an award between 15-30% of the recovered amount. However, under the California False Claims Act, you may be awarded as much as 50%.
When you work with one of our qui tam lawyers, we can help fight for the maximum whistleblower award possible.
How Can a Qui Tam Lawyer Help Me With My Sacramento Qui Tam Lawsuit?
In most cases, you are required to have a lawyer in order to file a qui tam lawsuit. However, not all lawyers are alike. Tycko & Zavareei LLP’s Sacramento qui tam lawyers know the nuances and intricacies of federal and California state whistleblower laws and have helped secure millions of dollars for whistleblowers.
Our team helps whistleblowers in the following ways:
- Determine if you are eligible to file a qui tam lawsuit during a free and confidential legal consultation.
- Help you compile a strong case, including advising on the types of evidence to secure and filing all relevant paperwork.
- Represent your best interests in any legal proceedings, including helping to conceal your identity when possible.
Schedule a Consultation with a Sacramento Qui Tam Lawyer Today
At Tycko & Zavareei LLP, we specialize in helping our clients through their qui tam lawsuits from start to finish. Our lawyers have worked on some of the largest and most significant qui tam lawsuits in the country. We can answer your questions and help you through the entire process. Even if you are unsure of whether or not the information you have may qualify you to file a qui tam lawsuit, reach out to us for an initial consultation.
We are proud to serve whistleblowers in the Sacramento area. Call us today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. We can help you take the next step toward fighting fraud.
