lawyer who stole qui tam

What is a qui tam lawsuit?

Qui tam lawsuits are lawsuits brought under the False Claims Act, a law originally enacted during the Civil War and signed by President Abraham Lincoln, and it has been referred to as “Lincoln’s Law.”The False Claims Act protects whistleblowers who report fraud on the government and pays rewards to those who are successful in assisting the government in recovering funds lost to …

How does a whistleblower file a qui tam case?

Stephen Kohn, Founding Partner Stephen M. Kohn is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading qui tam and whistleblower attorneys.

What happens after a qui tam case is filed under seal?

(New York City) — Qui Tam Whistleblowers across the country helped U.S. taxpayers celebrate another banner recovery year, receiving more than $530 million in rewards for helping the federal government recover nearly all of the $3 billion it obtained in under the False Claims Act (“FCA”), in Fiscal Year 2011 (FY 2011), Whistleblower Attorney Timothy J. McInnis of McInnis Law …

How can an attorney help my whistleblower case?

Jun 15, 2014 · California Qui Tam Lawyer – What is a Qui Tam Case? The False Claims Act ( 31 U.S.C.§§ 3729–3733) is an American federal law that imposes liability on persons and/or companies (typically federal contractors) who defraud governmental programs. Claims under the law have typically involved health care, military, or other government spending ...

What happens if a qui tam lawsuit is not successful?

False Claims Act Whistleblowers Protected Even Without a Successful Qui Tam Lawsuit. The False Claims Act contains a newly broadened anti-retaliation provision that protects whistleblowers who take actions in furtherance of a Qui Tam action, or in an attempt to stop one or more violations of the False Claims Act.

Is qui tam civil or criminal?

The case netted the largest criminal fine ever imposed in the United States for any matter, $1.195 billion, and the largest civil fraud settlement against any pharmaceutical company. Qui tam "relators" are not eligible to receive shares of criminal fines.

What happens during a qui tam lawsuit?

What Happens During a Qui Tam Lawsuit? Under the law, an employee who has evidence that his or her employer is defrauding the government can sue the employer and recover compensation for the fraud on behalf of the government.Oct 18, 2021

What are qui tam lawsuits How are whistle blowers rewarded in such lawsuits?

Qui tam is a type of lawsuit based on an ancient writ in common law that allows a private person, known as a relator, to prosecute a lawsuit for the government and receive a reward. ... If the case is successful, the relator can earn a whistleblower reward.

What is the False Claims Act qui tam?

The False Claims Act (FCA) allows whistleblowers to bring lawsuits against companies and individuals who defraud the federal government. Suits under the FCA and similar laws in a number of states are known as “qui tam” actions.

Can you get sued for being a whistleblower?

As a whistleblower, you can file a lawsuit on behalf of the government, claiming damages for the government, even though you are not involved in the activity. You are also entitled to monetary compensation for reporting the illegal conduct, if the case is successful in court.

Who can sue under the False Claims Act?

Under the False Claims Act, qui tam allows persons and entities with evidence of fraud against federal programs or contracts to sue the wrongdoer on behalf of the United States Government. In qui tam actions, the government has the right to intervene and join the action.

What is the penalty for violating the False Claims Act?

The False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729, provides that anyone who violates the law “is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000, . . . plus 3 times the amount of damages.” But how does that apply in practice?

What are the penalties for kickbacks?

The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute is a criminal statute and the penalties for violations of the law can be severe. They include fines of up to $25,000 per violation, felony conviction punishable by imprisonment up to five years, or both, as well as possible exclusion from participation in Federal Healthcare Programs.

Do whistleblowers get paid?

The whistleblower may receive a reward of 10 percent to 30 percent of what the government recovers, if the SEC recovers more than $1 million. The SEC may increase the whistleblower award based on many factors, such as: How important the information that the whistleblower provided was to the enforcement action.

Do whistleblowers get paid in South Africa?

Conclusion In the Republic of South Africa, whistleblowers are only compensated for occupational detriment suffered and not for blowing the whistle as per the Protected Disclosures Act.

Do federal whistleblowers get paid?

A whistleblower reward is a monetary incentive provided by the government to reward a whistleblower's disclosure of original information that leads to a successful enforcement action. Whistleblowers can receive an award of up to 30% of the monetary sanctions collected in a succesful enforcement action.Jan 8, 2022

How much did Qui Tam get in 2010?

WASHINGTON (November 2010)—Qui Tam whistleblowers have received nearly $3 billion in rewards for helping the federal government recover more than $18 billion in false claims cases since 1986 revisions to the federal law added protections and more incentives for whistleblowers who step forward and, “Do the right thing,” Qui Tam attorney Timothy J. McInnis announced.

Who is the whistleblower attorney?

(EUGENE, OR) — Whistleblower Attorney Timothy J. McInnis led a panel focusing on the use of whistleblower law in environmental cases at the annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (“PIELC”), which is billed as, “the premier annual gathering for environmentalists in the world.”

What is the False Claims Act?

The False Claims Act provides for triple damages plus statutory fines of up to $11,000 per false claims, with whistleblowers that bring evidence of fraud to the Government are eligible for awards of 15 to 30 percent of the total amount recovered under the Act. DoJ’s policy is to extract double damages when it settles.

How much did whistleblowers get in 2005?

NEW YORK CITY – Individuals and businesses who blew the whistle on contract, program and other schemes to defraud the federal Government were awarded nearly $170 million in fiscal 2005, according to New York City Attorney Timothy J. McInnis, Esq., whose national legal practice concentrates on representing whistleblowers by filing fraud-against-government cases under Qui Tam provisions of the False Claims Act.#N#Some $1.1 billion was recovered by the Government via whistleblower claims in the fiscal year that ended in September 2005, according to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, and 2006 is shaping up to be even bigger, said McInnis, a former federal prosecutor who handles whistleblower-revealed fraud in all types of Government programs and purchasing.#N#The False Claims Act, which dates back to the Civil War, was substantially strengthened in 1986 to better reward and protect whistleblowers who bring knowledge of fraud to the Government via attorneys like McInnis. Individuals and entities who defraud the Government by claiming federal funds to which they know they aren’t entitled are liable for three times the Government’s loss and penalties up to $11,000 for each false claim, McInnis explained.#N#Read The Complete News Release

Is Tim McInnis a good attorney?

"Tim McInnis is an amazing attorney. He is intelligent, thorough, ethical, kind and he works very strategically in order to insure the best outcome for his clients. I would trust him with my life. He is not only an excellent attorney, but he is a compassionate person."

California Qui Tam Lawyer – What is a Qui Tam Case?

The False Claims Act ( 31 U.S.C.§§ 3729–3733) is an American federal law that imposes liability on persons and/or companies (typically federal contractors) who defraud governmental programs. Claims under the law have typically involved health care, military, or other government spending programs.

Why Would Someone Participate in a False Claims Case?

People should not be afraid to report qui tam cases for many reasons. First, The False Claims Act prohibits any and imposes strict penalties on action taken by an employer which has a negative effect on the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

Employees Signing A Severance Agreement Should Exercise Caution Because You Could Be Waiving Or Releasing Your Right To Bring A False Claim, Whistleblower or Qui Tam Lawsuit

If you are terminated and your employer asks you to sign a severance agreement, what exactly are you giving up? Severance agreements typically contain broad releases, in which you waive your rights to bring a claim or lawsuit against your employer. Exactly what this can mean may surprise you.