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Whistleblowers are people who come forward and disclose illegal activity, mostly in the workplace. Whistleblowing has become a very important tool for the government since the passage of the Federal False Claims Act in 1863, during the civil war era (and subsequent amendments to strengthen the act in 1986). Under the FFCA, private citizens who know that fraud against the government is taking place in their workplace can file suit (called a Qui Tam lawsuit) to stop the fraud, get the wrongdoer to pay the money back to the government (along with triple damages and penalites), and receive a percentage of the recovery for their troubles.

Qui Tam actions serve an important function in the effort to stop fraud against the government. Private citizens are more likely to spot possible fraud in their workplace, and since 1986, over $15 billion have been recovered due to the efforts of these whistleblowers. Whistleblowers stand to make between 15-30% of any settlement, depending on the circumstances of each case.

If you know or have reason to believe that your employer has committed fraud with respect to a government contract or against government funds, you can contact an experienced attorney to discuss what your options may be. Even if you were somehow involved in the wrongdoing, you may still pursue a Qui Tam action. Your employer is prohibited by law from retaliatory acts against you for filing a Qui Tam suit, such as demotion, suspension, threats, harassment or any other types of discrimination. The consequences for retaliation are steep. The False Claims Act provides for reinstatement, double back pay with interest, and special damages, including legal expenses and reasonable attorney’s fees.

To find out about filing a Qui Tam suit, see Filing a Qui Tam Action. For a brief overview of the False Claims Act, see What Does Qui Tam Mean? and Whistleblowers Can Stop Fraud. For more information about where these cases come from, see Where the Qui Tam Cases are Found.
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