What is a bounty claim?

A bounty claim is a civil action in California under whistleblower law that allows whistleblowers to pursue a claim against an employer on behalf of the state. It is also known as a qui tam action, which is a Latin term that means “he who brings a suit on behalf of the state.” The California False Claims Act enables individuals to become whistleblowers on behalf of their employer and the state. This law allows individuals to file a written claim with the Attorney General’s Office that shows evidence of fraud committed by their employer. This claim will then be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and if the results show that fraud has actually occurred, the individual who reported the fraud will be entitled to receive a portion of the recovered amount. This is known as a bounty claim. The rewards for a successful bounty claim can be extremely high and can even reach up to 25 percent of the total amount recovered from the employer. This is determined by the Attorney General’s Office at the conclusion of their investigation. A successful bounty claim can be a big financial windfall for the whistleblower and serve as an incentive for others to come forward with possible fraudulent activity. In California, bounty claims are an important component of the state’s tenacious protection of its taxpayers from fraud. It allows brave individuals to become agents of the state, coming forward with evidence of fraud and being rewarded for their efforts.

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What is a bounty claim?

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