Whistleblower Lawsuits and the False Claims Act / Qui Tam

The False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Sections 3729 through 3733), a federal law, prohibits an organization who receives federal money from submitting requests for such money that contain knowingly false information. The act is designed to save taxpayer money and prevent fraud against the federal government. Common examples of conduct that violates the False Claims Act are submitting claims for services that were not in fact provided, submitting claims for services that were not medically necessary, and submitting claims for services that were paid by a non–federal–government source.

Persons can bring whistleblower lawsuits on behalf of the government by filing a qui tam action. The government may intervene in the action, but if it does not then the plaintiff can carry on with the claim on his or her own. If successful, the private plaintiff can receive a certain percentage of the money recovered. Under the False Claims Act, the statute of limitations for filing a qui tam lawsuit is six years from the violation or three years from when the government knew or should have known about the violation. A qui tam lawsuit, however, can never be filed more than ten years from the date of the violation.

The False Claims Act provides whistleblower protections for employees who are fired, demoted, suspended or otherwise discriminated against for reporting such fraud. If successful, relief can include back pay (doubled), attorney’s fees and other litigation costs, and reinstatement to the position. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 12 Section 5 allows civil actions to recover money for the Commonwealth and provides whistleblower protections similar to those that are available under federal law.

Call Altman & Altman LLP today if you would like to speak with an attorney about the False Claims Act or any whistleblower protection matters. Our experienced Greater Boston Whistleblower Lawyers will listen attentively to what you have to say and tell you how to best proceed with your claim. We all need to do our best to make sure that individuals and entities are not committing fraud against the government and wasting taxpayer dollars, so it is important to consider a qui tam action when you have reason to suspect that kind of behavior.

Our local team of Massachusetts whistleblower attorneys will travel to your location to speak with you face to face about your whistleblower lawsuit. With offices conveniently located in Boston and Cambridge, our lawyers have the ability to meet with you in your home, office or any other convenient location. In addition, our Greater Boston whistleblower attorneys can arrange to meet with you at any time - including weekends and evenings. We represent whistleblower clients throughout New England.

If you have information of a fraud being committed against the government, please Contact our outstanding Greater Boston Whistleblower Attorneys by phone at 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 or Contact Us Online to speak with one of our lawyers. We are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.