Qui Tam Lawsuits - Learn about protecting your environment from illegal polluting

Qui tam is a statute under the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq.), which allows for a private individual, or whistleblower with knowledge of past or present fraud on the federal government to bring suit on behalf of the government. Common cases of Qui Tam lawsuits include illegal environmental polluting.

Its name is an abbreviation of the phrase “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro seipse,” meaning “he who sues for the king as well as for himself."

This provision allows a private person, known as a “relator,” to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States, where the private person has information that the named defendant has knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false or fraudulent claims to the United States. The relator need not have been personally harmed by the defendant’s conduct.

Initiating A Qui Tam Action

To initiate the Qui Tam process, a private citizen, referred to as a “relator,” files the complaint in the United States District Court. The complaint must be filed in camera and remain under seal for at least 60 days, during which time all information contained within the complaint must be kept confidential from outside parties, including the defendant. The relator is also required by law to serve a copy of the complaint, as well as a written disclosure statement detailing all pertinent information in the relator’s possession, upon the United States Government. Once these steps have been taken, the United States is granted a mandatory 60-day period to investigate the relator’s allegations and decide whether to intervene in the lawsuit and assume primary responsibility for the litigation.

This 60-day period may be extended upon a showing of “good cause” and, as a practical matter, extensions are often liberally granted.

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see also:

Protection Against Retaliation Qui Tam Lawsuit - Protection Against Retaliation
Protection Against Retaliation in a Qui Tam Lawsuit

Government Involvement Qui Tam Law Firm: Government Involvment in Qui Tam Case
The U.S. Government may elect to interviene in a Qui Tam lawsuit.

Learn More Whistleblower Attorney - Learn about filing a lawsuit and your rights
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