What is a qui tam lawsuit?

A qui tam lawsuit is a legal action that allows private citizens to sue on behalf of the government for violations of District of Columbia Whistleblower Law. Qui tam actions are one of the most effective tools the government has to enforce its laws because they allow private citizens to assist the government in identifying fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The most common form of qui tam litigation involves a person filing a lawsuit against a company or person who has violated the False Claims Act. A qui tam lawsuit is initiated by a "relator," who is a private citizen who knows of a company or person committing fraud against the government. The relator files a lawsuit on behalf of the government, and the lawsuit is then investigated by the government. If they find that the allegation is true, the government may decide to intervene and prosecute the case. If the government chooses not to intervene, the qui tam lawsuit may still proceed, with the relator acting as the plaintiff. Qui tam lawsuits are a powerful tool for whistleblowers to receive compensation for exposing fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The False Claims Act also encourages whistleblowing by providing a financial incentive for those who report fraudulent activity. If the government successfully recovers damages, the whistleblower is entitled to receive a share of the proceeds from the lawsuit.

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What is a qui tam lawsuit?

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