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Qui Tam Whistleblower
Florida Qui Tam/Whistleblower Lawyers
Table of Contents
Qui Tam Whistleblower Lawyers Helping You Fight Fraud
At The Ferraro Law Firm, our Florida qui tam lawyers represent cases under the False Claims Act. If you’re aware of activity that defrauds the United States government, our whistleblower lawyers can help you file a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. Since 1985, our team has secured billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients.
We have earned multiple honors and achievements for our work, including:
- Inclusion in Super Lawyers® and Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ lists
- Selection to Elite Trial Lawyers, Top Rated Lawyers, & Top Law Firms
- Membership in Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
- 30+ years of experience handling complex, high-stakes cases
There are four central advantages to pursuing a qui tam case with our law firm. One, we have an extensive background in tax and accounting, making us ideally suited to building a fraud claim. Two, we have extensive experience facing Fortune 500 companies in court, successfully overcoming the most well-prepared legal teams in the nation. Three, the bedrock of our firm is on investigation-when we take on a case, we do so with the resources and skills required to gather evidence and build compelling arguments. Four, our team includes seasoned federal prosecutors who have handled high-level criminal cases in the nation’s highest courts. We are equipped to handle your case.
If you’re wondering if you have a possible case on your hands, call (888) 554-2030 for a free case consultation. We can determine if you have a valid claim and how we can help you file a suit.
What Is the False Claims Act?
“Qui tam” cases are lawsuits filed by individuals on behalf of the U.S. government. Defendants are individuals or companies who have defrauded the federal government, and citizens are empowered to bring them to justice in a civil claim under the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733). State and local governments sometimes have their own version of the False Claims Act, so individuals can file claims on their behalves as well.
These claims are brought by a “whistleblower” who has information that the company or individual is defrauding the government. Such person is called a “Relator.” Whistleblowers are commonly employees of the company committing fraud, but anyone who is aware of fraud is eligible to file the qui tam suit. This includes patients, analysts, customers, subcontractors, even competitors.
Persons filing under the False Claims Act stand to receive a portion of any recovered damages, (ranging from 15 to 30 percent, depending on various circumstances). Lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act are presented to the government, with all evidence and paperwork, without public knowledge. The lawsuit is considered “under seal,” meaning it is not privy to anyone but the government investigators on the case-not even the defendants are made aware of the lawsuit.
The Attorney General then has 60 days (with extension requests permitted and routinely requested and granted), to decide whether the government wishes to intervene in the matter and pursue the lawsuit. After the 60-day period, one of two things will happen. If the government chooses to join the lawsuit, they will jointly work with the whistleblower and his or her lawyer. In this case, the government will serve as lead counsel.
What to Do If the Government Declines Your Lawsuit
If the government chooses not the join the lawsuit, the whistleblower may continue to pursue litigation on his or her own alongside the attorney they hired. If you’re considering pursuing a case against your employer, but you’re concerned for your job, the False Claims Act specifically protects whistleblowers from retaliation by their employer.
However, you may not want to delay much longer. The information a whistleblower brings cannot be information that is already known to the public unless the whistleblower is an original source of the information. The first person to file a qui tam claim for a specific fraud case is the only person who can file a claim-their case preempts all others. In addition, qui tam cases have a statute of limitations. The window of time may be as short as six years, so act quickly.
The Ferraro Law Firm Has Decades of Experience as Federal Prosecutors
The Ferraro Law Firm employs former federal prosecutors with a combined 25 years’ experience in the Department of Justice at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The Southern District of Florida is the third-largest federal prosecutor’s office in the United States.
In short, our law firm is equipped with the experience, skills, and resources to file your case. We can help you hold others accountable for fraud, whether they are private individuals or Fortune 500 companies. Reach out to us for a free, confidential consultation. We can protect your rights under the False Claims Act while potentially securing you a sizable award for reporting fraud.
If you have information about a company or individual who is defrauding either the federal, state, or local government, please contact The Ferraro Law Firm at (888) 554-2030.