Contact Nashville Whistleblower Attorney Timothy L. Milles Today if You Are Thinking of Blowing the Whistle
WHAT IS A QUI TAM LAWSUIT?
A qui tam lawsuit is a type of lawsuit in which an employee or contractor, called a “relator” in legal terms, brings suit on behalf of the government. These suits are also referred to as whistleblower lawsuits. They typically involve the detection and reporting of false claims against the government (fraud against the government) by the company's owners. An employee blowing the whistle on their employer and bringing suit on behalf of the government so they can recover related damages is called a Whistleblower Lawsuit. Successful whistleblowers are entitled to receive up to 30% of the damages and penalties recovered by the government as a result of their actions. Below are more details about these types of lawsuits, including eligibility requirements, possible risks, and examples of qui tam cases that have resulted in significant whistleblower awards.
If you have knowledge of fraud against or by the federal government, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles who can guide you through the whistleblower process and explain your whistleblower protections. (855) 846–6529 or [email protected]. The consultation is free and confidential. Ask a Nashville whistleblower attorney, you may be entitled to a whistleblower award. REQUIREMENTS TO FILE A QUI TAM LAWSUIT
First, you should know several conditions must be met for you to file a qui tam lawsuit. First, the fraud must have been committed against the government, agencies, or programs. The most obvious and common examples of this type of fraud include Medicare fraud, Medicaid fraud, and defense contractor fraud. Second, you must be an employee or contractor who was or is involved with the government contract in question. In other words, this means you must have firsthand knowledge of the actual fraud committed against the government to be eligible to file a qui tam lawsuit. Finally, you must file the action within 6 years of the time you first learned about the fraud. This is called the statute of limitations, and it applies to every qui tam action.
Talk to a Nashville whistleblower attorney who can explain more on the statute of limitations. (855) 846–6529 or [email protected]. POSSIBLE RISKS IN FILING A QUI TAM LAWSUIT
There are several possible risks involved in filing a qui tam lawsuit, including the following. You may experience retaliation in the form of a decrease in pay or other employment benefits. You may also face other forms of retaliation from your employer, such as being demoted or fired. However, these risks are minimized because the government affords certain protections for whistleblowers. The False Claims Act protects against retaliation: Whistleblowers may not be harassed, threatened, demoted, fired, or otherwise discriminated against because of their decision to come forward. Other risks include receiving a lower financial award if you are successful in your lawsuit. This is where an experienced Nashville whistleblower attorney can help. If you are considering blowing the whistle but have concerns, talk to a Nashville whistleblower attorney who can further explain the process and the merits of your case. (855) 846–6529 or [email protected].
EXAMPLES OF WHISTLEBLOWER AWARDS
These are a few examples of whistleblower award cases that have resulted in significant awards for the whistleblower. As a reward for blowing the whistle on GlaxoSmithKline in 2012, four whistleblowers split an estimated $250 million reward. As part of a larger, $16.65 billion payout, whistleblowers shared a $170 million reward for exposing Bank of America's fraudulent practice of labeling high-risk mortgages as safe and selling them to government-insured mortgage companies. In 2012, Johnson & Johnson paid $2.2 billion to settle off-label fraud and kickback allegations related to the prescription drugs Risperdal, Natrecor and Invega. The whistleblower received $167 million in rewards. Tenet Healthcare paid $900 million to settle allegations that it engaged in bill padding, upcoded DRG codes, paid kickbacks and fraudulently manipulated Medicare outlier payments. For reporting the fraud, the whistleblower received $150 million in 2006.
frequently asked questionsWho is a relator?
The term "relator" is synonymous with whistleblowers. This designation has its roots in the False Claims Act, a whistleblower reward law enacted by President Abraham Lincoln on March 2, 1863, during the Civil War. Within this statute, "relator" is the specified term used to denote individuals who originally disclose fraudulent activities against the government. The modern term "whistleblower" did not exist in 1863. As a result, contemporary whistleblower reward laws frequently utilize "relator" within judicial contexts and among involved parties to refer to a whistleblower.
What is the False Claims Act?
The False Claims Act, codified at 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 – 3733, is a federal law originally established in 1863 amid the Civil War to address fraudulent practices by government contractors. This legislation imposed penalties on those who knowingly presented false claims to the government. Significant updates were made to the Act in 1986 through amendments spearheaded by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and former Representative Howard Berman (D-CA). The False Claims Act is widely regarded as the most crucial mechanism for reclaiming U.S. taxpayer funds lost to fraudulent claims against the government.
Who can file a qui tam action?
Individuals or organizations possessing proof of fraud involving federal programs or contracts have the option to initiate a qui tam action.
Nonetheless, if a False Claims Act lawsuit has already been initiated by either the government or a private individual based on the same evidence, you are precluded from filing another lawsuit. What are the civil penalties under the False Claims Act?
Those who violate the False Claims Act are subject to paying three times the amount defrauded from the government, in addition to civil penalties ranging between $10,781 and $21,563 for each fraudulent claim.
A qui tam plaintiff is entitled to receive between 15% and 30% of the total recovery from the defendant, either through a favorable court decision or a settlement. To be eligible for monetary recovery under the Act, it is necessary to file a qui tam lawsuit. Simply notifying the government of the violation does not suffice. An award is granted only if, and after, the government successfully recovers funds from the defendant as a result of your lawsuit. CALL A NASHVILLE WHISTLEBLOW ATTORNEY IF YOU ARE CONCERNED YOU MAY BE FIRED EVEN WITH WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS
If you have knowledge of fraud against or by the federal government and are considering blowing the whistle, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles who can guide you through the whistleblower process and explain your whistleblower protections. The consultation is free and confidential. Just complete the form below to get started or call (855) Tim-M-Law. Ask a Nashville Whistleblower attorney, you could be entitled to a significant whistleblower award.
Call today and see what a Nashville whistleblower attorney can do for you. While there is still time to file a lawsuit, be mindful that these cases are time sensitive, and give a Nashville whistleblower attorney call today.
NASHVILLE WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY
TIMOTHY L. MILES, ESQ. The Law Offices of Timothy L. Miles Tapestry at Brentwood Town Center 300 Centerview Dr., #247 Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone: (855) 846–6529 Email: [email protected] NASHVILLE WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY TIMOTHY L. MILES Nashville attorney Timothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder rights attorney raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Miles has dedicated his career to representing shareholders, employees, and consumers in complex class-action litigation. Whether serving as lead, co-lead, or liaison counsel, Mr. Miles has helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars for defrauded investors, shaped precedent-setting decisions, and delivered real corporate governance reforms. Judges and peers have repeatedly recognized Mr. Miles’ relentless advocacy for the underdog, as well as his unbendable ethical standards. Mr. Miles was recently selected by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as a 2022 Top Ranked Lawyer, 2022 Top Rated Litigator. and a 2022 Elite Lawyer of the South. Mr. Miles also maintains the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating for both legal ability and ethics. Mr. Miles is a member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association,Class Action: Class Action: Top National Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association (2023), a superb rated attorney by Avvo, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019) and recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer, Recognizing Excellence in Securities Law, by Lawyers of Distinction (2019); a Top Rated Litigator by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM (2019-2022); America’s Most Honored Lawyers 2020 – Top 1% by America’s Most Honored (2020-2022). Mr. Miles has published over sixty articles on various issues of the law, including class actions, whistleblower cases, products liability, civil procedure, derivative actions, corporate takeover litigation, corporate formation, mass torts, dangerous drugs, and more. Please visit our website or call for free anytime. Comments are closed.
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