What is Qui Tam?

Considering that in 2020 alone, the Department of Justice obtained more than $2.2 billion in judgments and settlements from civil cases involving fraud and false claims against the government, it’s sometimes surprising that more individuals have never heard of qui tam or qui tam litigation. A Latin phrase coming from the longer phrase, “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur” (“who sues in this matter for the king as well as for himself”), qui tam cases originated in England when common citizens sued wrong-doers for acts they had committed against king and crown, in return for a financial reward. Signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the False Claims Act (also known as “Lincoln’s Law”) was created to fight widespread fraud against the Union troops and the federal government during the Civil War. Today, qui tam litigation enables private individuals, who have unique, insider knowledge of fraud committed against the federal government, to bring suit on behalf of the federal government and receive a portion of its award. They blow the whistle, “relating” information to the government.

These suits, brought for “the government as well as the plaintiff,” are known as qui tam cases. By punishing and deterring fraud via qui tam litigation, these suits protect the lives of medical patients, soldiers, American citizens generally, and many others who might otherwise be injured or damaged as a by-product of the fraud committed.

Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers can be rewarded when they report non-public (private or non-disclosed) information about fraud against the government.

The Law Offices of David Berg offers a team of qui tam or “whistleblower” attorneys who can be of assistance if you or someone you know feels that they may have a qui tam claim. Visit this page to watch a short video explaining the nature of qui tam and qui tam litigation. Then, contact the Law Offices of David Berg as an initial step to determine if we will be able to be of service to you in your matter.