False Claims Whistleblower Reward Attorney

Whistleblower Rewards Are Available to Individuals Who Report Fraud Under the False Claims Act

The federal False Claims Act (FCA) includes whistleblower reward provisions that provide a financial incentive for individuals to come forward with information about fraud, waste, and abuse. In most cases, if a False Claims Act lawsuit is successful, the whistleblower is entitled to a reward of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the funds the government recovers.

This means that whistleblower rewards can be substantial—and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) pays hundreds of millions of dollars to private citizens under the FCA each year. If you have questions about coming forward, we strongly encourage you to speak with a false claims whistleblower reward attorney at our firm in confidence.

Whistleblower Rewards Under the False Claims Act

While the federal government uses the False Claims Act to target defense contractors, healthcare providers, and other companies directly, the FCA’s qui tam provisions also allow whistleblowers to inform the government when enforcement action is warranted. The FCA is one of several whistleblower laws that include provisions for monetary rewards.

In whistleblower cases under the FCA, reward eligibility and reward amounts are based on several factors—and this is one of several reasons why it is important to engage an experienced attorney early in the process. Some of the key factors are as follows:

• Taking Legal Action Promptly – As a general rule, a whistleblower must be the first to come forward in order to be eligible for a whistleblower award under the False Claims Act. This makes it important for prospective whistleblowers to speak with an attorney promptly.
• Providing Original Information – To qualify to file a qui tam case under the False Claims Act, a whistleblower must be able to provide “original information.” This means that the information must come from first-hand knowledge or independent analysis, and it must not already be known to the federal government.
• Providing Information that Warrants a Federal Investigation – The original information that a whistleblower provides must be sufficient to warrant a federal investigation. If the government cannot use a whistleblower’s information to combat fraud, waste, or abuse, it will not issue an award.
• Correctly Filing a Qui Tam Complaint – False Claims Act whistleblowers (or “relators”) must correctly file whistleblower lawsuits in federal court. This involves filing a qui tam complaint that meets all applicable substantive and procedural requirements.
• Assisting with the Government’s Investigation – After filing a lawsuit on behalf of the government, a qui tam relator should be prepared to assist with the government’s investigation. If the government conducts a successful investigation relying on a whistleblower’s assistance, the whistleblower is more likely to receive a larger award.
• Whether the Government Intervenes – After the government conducts an investigation in response to a qui tam action, the government will decide whether to “intervene” in the lawsuit. When the government intervenes, eligible whistleblowers are typically entitled to between 15 percent and 25 percent of the government’s total recovery. If the government declines to intervene, the award range increases to between 25 percent and 30 percent of the recovered funds.
• Whether the Government Recovers Taxpayer Dollars – Regardless of whether the government chooses to intervene, false claims whistleblower rewards are only available in successful cases. A case is “successful” if it results in the recovery of stolen funds through a settlement or a judgment at trial.

5 Key Facts for Prospective False Claims Act Whistleblowers

If you are interested in coming forward as a whistleblower under the False Claims Act, it will be important to ensure that you are making informed decisions about your next steps. With this in mind, here are five key facts for prospective False Claims Act whistleblowers:

1. The FCA Covers Fraud Under Government Contracts, Grants, and Programs

Whistleblowers can report “false and fraudulent claims” under government contracts, government grants, and government programs (i.e., Medicare and Medicaid) under the False Claims Act. Fraudulent practices such as securities fraud and tax fraud are covered under different whistleblower programs, and our attorneys handle these cases as well.

2. The Government Receives Lotsof Whistleblower Complaints

Due to pervasive fraud under government contracts, grants, and programs, the government receives numerous complaints from potential whistleblowers. To make sure your complaint qualifies you for a reward under the False Claims Act, you should work with an experienced attorney who can present your complaint effectively on your behalf.

3. You Need to Be Able to Convince the DOJ It Should Investigate

When filing a whistleblower complaint under the False Claims Act, you need to provide sufficient information to demonstrate that a government investigation is warranted. An experienced attorney can assist with demonstrating the wrongdoing at issue and showing that the DOJ may be able to recover money by taking action.

4. False Claims Whistleblowers Do Not Pay Attorneys’ Fees Out of Pocket

As a False Claims Act whistleblower, you will not have to pay any attorneys’ fees or litigation costs out of pocket. Our legal team will handle your case on a contingency-fee basis, which means that we will only collect a fee for our services if we help you secure a whistleblower award from the federal government.

5. Blowing the Whistle is the Right Thing To Do

Whistleblowers play a critical role in the federal government’s never-ending fight against fraud, waste, and abuse. As a result, for individuals who have information about fraud, waste, and abuse, whistleblowing is unquestionably the right thing to do. If you have questions about coming forward, our attorneys can walk you through everything you need to know.

What You Can Expect From Our False Claims Whistleblower Reward Attorneys

Our false claims whistleblower reward attorneys have extensive experience helping individuals come forward under the False Claims Act. Additionally, some of our attorneys handled False Claims Act cases at the DOJ before entering private practice. When you choose our firm to represent you, you can expect to receive custom-tailored advice informed by real-world experience, and you can expect to feel confident that you are making smart decisions.

As noted above, we represent all FCA whistleblowers on a contingency-fee basis. As a result, you will not pay out-of-pocket for our legal representation. Scheduling a free initial consultation does not obligate you to move forward; and, regardless of what you decide to do, we will not disclose any information you share with us unless you expressly authorize us to do so.

FAQs: Blowing the Whistle Under the False Claims Act

Speak with a False Claims Whistleblower Reward Attorney in Strict Confidence

To speak with an experienced false claims whistleblower reward attorney at our firm in strict confidence, contact us today. call 888-680-1745 or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation as soon as possible.