A whistleblower is someone who provides information about a private or public organization’s illegal, unethical, or unsafe practices. They report fraud, abuse, or corruption. They can come in the form of an employee within a large organization that has information not...
Qui Tam Cases
Qui Tam Cases
New York’s Medicaid fraud protections are substantial
New York State is one of 32 that have their qui tam statute. Like other statutes at the state and federal level, the New York State False Claims Act (NYFCA) empowers whistleblowers to file lawsuits against companies and individuals who submit fraudulent claims to the...
Whistleblowers help DOJ recover billions
The Department of Justice recovered over $1.6 billion thanks to qui tam whistleblower lawsuits in the fiscal year 2021, which is October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. The qui tam provisions under the False Claim Act empower private citizens to file lawsuits on...
Hyundai safety engineer awarded $24.3 million
A former employee of Hyundai received the largest whistleblower award in automotive industry history when the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) bestowed $24.3 million. This was due to a 2016 report filed by the whistleblower, who pointed...
Diabetic shoe company to pay $5.5 million
The Florida-based Foot Care Store, which did business as Dia-Foot, agreed to pay $5,538,338 to settle allegations that it violated the false claim act between 2013 and 2018. The settlement resulted from a former employee filing a claim – and they will subsequently...
Who is liable for government contractor fraud?
Whistleblowers are often a beneficial resource in identifying government contractors behaving dishonestly. They commit fraud when they do not provide services or goods outlined in a state or federal government contract. Despite the different industries and structured...
What is the government’s role in qui tam actions?
Each qui tam action is different, but all involve alleged fraudulent actions committed against the U.S. government. Private citizens or organizations usually file a qui tam, and the government may then get involved. There are a few steps and outcomes when filing a qui...
Gymnasts allege the FBI and others turned a blind eye on Nassar
Official USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar systematically abused hundreds of girls and women, and he was finally charged in 2016 with federal child pornography offenses and sexual abuse charges in Michigan. Nassar pled guilty in 2017, but gymnasts believe that...
Businesses can set up internal reviews for whistleblowers
Whistleblowers may have a reputation among certain segments as traitors to a company. It is likely because news of illegal or unethical behavior reflects poorly on the organization or its decision-makers. However, employers, executives and managers can create an...
A brief history of qui tam lawsuits
The term “qui tam” has a long history in the law. The term itself is an abbreviation of a Latin phrase meaning “to sue in the name of the king” and came to the U.S. via English common law. Essentially, it allows an individual to act on behalf of the government to end...
