The false claims act is a powerful tool that allows private citizens to sue individuals and companies that are defrauding the federal government. As an incentive for filing a qui tam lawsuit, the whistleblower stands to share in any amount recovered and is protected from any retribution from the company should it be their employer. Whistleblowers, along with their false claims act attorney in Chicago have been instrumental in helping the government recover many millions of dollars that were fraudulently obtained by defense contractors, Medicare and Medicaid recipients and more.
What constitutes a false claim?
A false claim act case is one that accuses an individual or corporate entity of cheating the government. It is this fraud that is the “false claim.” A false claim can take many different forms including overcharging the government for a specific product, failure to perform a service in accordance with a contractual agreement, under delivery of goods, providing goods of inferior quality, charging for one thing but delivering something altogether different and much more.
Anyone that has been charged under the false claims act and is found guilty may be liable to pay the government triple damages, pay a substantial fine for every false claim and to pay the fee of the false claim act attorney in Chicago that represented the whistleblower.
How does the act work?
Anyone, including a private citizen, which is aware that a person or company is defrauding the government, can file a qui tam lawsuit under the false claim act. AS the process is extremely complex, anyone contemplating filing a claim is well advised to contact a false claims act attorney in Chicago. The claim is made in federal court, under seal. Any case filed “under seal” is highly confidential; this proviso ensures that only the court and certain government officials are aware that the case even exists. By filing the case under seal, the person bringing the action is protected from retribution.
If you are aware of an individual or a company defrauding the government you can take action by hiring a false claims act attorney in Chicago and suing on behalf of the government. You are invited to discuss this issue with the Zimmerman Law Offices.
