False Claims Act / Qui-Tam Litigation

Girard Gibbs maintains a consultancy relationship with one of the nation’s most accomplished attorneys specializing in False Claims Act lawsuits, Stephen Meagher (www.whistlebloweraid.com). Mr. Meagher has successfully recovered more than $700 million dollars on behalf of the United States under the False Claims Act. 

 The Federal False Claims Act and corresponding state laws provide private citizens the right to file lawsuits, on the government’s behalf, against individuals or companies that defraud the government. In addition, the Act provides compensation to the “relators” or “whistleblowers” who provide information about the fraud, ranging from 15 to 30% of whatever the government ultimately recovers.

  Frequently, these qui tam lawsuits (derived from a Latin phrase that roughly means "he who sues on behalf of the ruler as well as himself”) are filed by employees or former employees of the companies that commit the fraud; however, anyone who knows of an instance where the government has paid false claims can file a qui tam lawsuit.

The False Claims Act applies most commonly when a company or person:

• knowingly presents (or causes to be presented) to the Federal Government a false or fraudulent claim for payment,
• knowingly uses (or causes to be used) a false record or statement to get a claim paid by the Federal Government,
• conspires with others to get a false or fraudulent claim paid by the Federal Government,
• knowingly uses (or causes to be used) a false record or statement to conceal, avoid, or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Federal Government.

If you are interested in finding out more information about our False Claims Act practice, please click here to contact us.