When companies or individuals commit fraud against the federal or state government or its agencies, the employees who help to expose these fraudulent entities by taking legal actions are often referred to as whistleblowers. The False Claims Act (FCA) gives those with inside knowledge of fraudulent behavior an incentive to come forward by allowing whistleblowers to retain a percentage of the recovered stolen funds. Established by President Lincoln, the FCA allows individuals to sue organizations and individuals on behalf of the United States government.
At Tycko & Zavareei LLP, our Miami whistleblower lawyers have represented hundreds of whistleblowers across the country in helping to expose fraud committed by corporations and similar entities against the government. If you are aware of a business or individual defrauding the state or federal government or any of its agencies, call the Miami whistleblower lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei LLP today for a confidential qui tam case evaluation.
In 1863, the federal government established the False Claims Act (FCA) as a way to fight corporate fraud against the government and to encourage and protect the whistleblowers who help to expose it. The FCA incentivizes employees and others with inside knowledge of fraud to come forth with their information through filing a whistleblower lawsuit, sometimes also called a qui tam lawsuit, by offering the whistleblower a percentage of any stolen funds that are recovered. In 2021 alone, the government recovered $1.6 billion from False Claims Act cases involving whistleblowers.
Qui tam is a part of the FCA that allows whistleblowers to bring lawsuits against fraudulent companies on behalf of the U.S. government. Derived from the Latin term for “who as well for the king as for himself sues in the manner,” qui tam refers to a lawsuit that is brought by an individual on behalf of the government. The whistleblower who is bringing the lawsuit in these cases is also sometimes referred to as the qui tam relator.
Corporate fraud can take many forms and is most common in industries where government contracts are present. Some common types of corporate fraud against the federal and state government include:
Fraudulent actions that fall under these categories and may be grounds for a whistleblower lawsuit include:
Since the government counts on whistleblowers to help expose fraudulent activity, whistleblowers are protected from retaliation under the FCA. Retaliation can refer to harassment, suspension, demotion, getting fired, or otherwise being discriminated against because of reporting fraud against the government.
Whistleblowers who have spoken out about fraud and have been retaliated against by their employer have the right to sue their employer for damages, including reinstatement of the employee who was fired, backpay they may have missed, as well as legal fees. If you have come forward about your employer’s fraudulent behavior and then experienced retaliation, an experienced Miami whistleblower attorney will be able to help you understand your legal options for recovering compensation.
The kind of evidence you will need will differ depending on the type of fraud you are trying to expose, but having detailed and thorough evidence is important in all qui tam cases. This may include emails, internal memos, financial records, and sometimes audio recordings.
You will want to gather evidence that helps answer:
An experienced Miami whistleblower lawyer will be able to assist you in presenting your evidence in a whistleblower lawsuit in the strongest way possible.
Whistleblower lawsuits can be complex. However, a qualified whistleblower attorney will be able to help you navigate the legal process, determine if the evidence you have is sufficient enough for a qui tam lawsuit, and answer any questions you may have.
If you have a potential case, your Miami whistleblower attorney will help you file the lawsuit, make sure you are protected from retaliation from your employer, and take legal action against retaliation if necessary.
At Tycko & Zavareei LLP, our whistleblower lawyers have represented whistleblowers across the country and are nationally recognized for their expertise in the field. With decades of experience both in the U.S. Justice Department and in private practice, our attorney’s whistleblower cases have resulted in over $7 billion in recovered funds from corporations defrauding the government. Our whistleblower lawyers represent whistleblowers nationwide, with offices in Washington, D.C. and California. Our qui tam lawyers are committed to making our country a better place by exposing fraud against government agencies.
If you believe you have proof of corporate fraud, contact the Miami whistleblower lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei LLP today for a confidential whistleblower case evaluation.