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There may be a time when you know that an individual or company is engaging in unfair business practices, and you’re unsure what you can do about it. If that wrongdoing includes making misrepresentations relating in any way to people, programs, institutions, or businesses that knowingly ask the United States or Florida governments for payment, then you may have a claim known as a qui tam or whistleblower claim.
Some examples of potential whistleblower claims include:
These claims are brought under the U.S. False Claims Act or the Florida False Claims Act. You may be able to bring the claim on behalf of the government, which makes you entitled to a percentage of the money recovered. In many cases, that can be millions of dollars depending on the claim. The damages for a violation of these acts can include:
It is important to be aware of the procedures before talking with people other than an experienced consumer protection attorney about the claim. If you disclose the information to the wrong person, you may waive your right to bring the claim and hurt the ability of the government to recover the money. It is a specialized area of law that is usually brought in federal court. Our lawyers have extensive federal court experience and know how to prosecute a qui tam lawsuit and whistleblower cases. We have been involved in multiple qui tam claims that led to the successful recovery of money for both our clients and the government.