A "false claim" is a request for payment from the government for a product or service not actually provided. False claims typically involve large government spending programs, such as Medicare or national defense, where the government cannot realistically monitor every company requesting reimbursement.
There are many examples of types of false claims that are paid by the government, including:
Submitting false claims to the federal government is prohibited by the False Claims Act, a law passed by Congress in 1863 during the Civil War. The Act attempted to prevent companies supplying goods and services to the government from selling unusable products, such as faulty ammunition or spoiled rations.
Many states also have versions of the False Claims Act that prohibit companies from submitting false claims to state governments. In California, false claims are prohibited by the California False Claims Act.
If you would like more information about false claims, please fill out the form to the right or call toll-free (866) 981-4800 to speak with one of our whistleblower attorneys.
Girard Gibbs is a national litigation firm representing consumers, investors, employees, and small businesses in cases involving consumer protection, personal injury, securities, antitrust, and employment laws. The firm’s senior partners, Daniel Girard and Eric Gibbs, have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 and Northern California Super Lawyers, and have earned AV-Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, recognizing them in the highest class of attorneys for professional ethics and legal skills.
