Qui Tam

Qui Tam Lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia - Billips & Benjamin, LLP

Many businesses in the United States are based on services rendered to the federal government through such programs as Medicare and defense contracting. Normally, the company provides the service and then submits a claim to the government agency to be paid for the service rendered. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous business owners have been known to inflate the amount of the claim in order to defraud the government of money or to provide the government with inferior or defective products. An employee with knowledge of such fraud on the part of their employer may report this conduct to the federal government and may obtain a portion of the amount recovered by the government for their services as a "relator." However, there are many pitfalls for an employee wishing to share in the proceeds obtained by the government. For this reason, we strongly urge you to contact an attorney experienced in handling claims under the False Claims Act (also known as a Qui Tam action) before reporting such fraud to the government. Our lawyers, serving Atlanta, Georgia, are experienced in the details of qui tam lawsuits and can help you to attain justice.

Qui Tam Law Defined
Fraud against the government is punishable under the provision of the False Claims Act, which states that a private citizen may bring a lawsuit against a company committing the fraud on behalf of the government. "Qui tam" is a shortened version of the Latin phrase that, translated, means "he who sues for the king as well as for himself." Because of the qui tam law, an individual may act as a whistleblower and report fraud without fear of retaliation from his or her employer. If an employee faces termination as punishment for reporting job discrimination, he or she may instead file a charge with the EEOC. » Back to top
Types of Fraud
There are many types of fraud that are eligible to be prosecuted under qui tam law. In Georgia, some of the most common methods of fraud involve defense contractors and health professionals providing care subsidized by Medicare.

Health Care Fraud
The simplest type of health care fraud is to bill Medicare for services that weren't provided or supplies that were never ordered and used, to over bill for these services and products, or to deliver defective or inferior products and services. Many doctors committing the fraud ask their employees to falsify paperwork to make the fraud look valid. These are the employees who then seek out qualified qui tam lawyers. The Atlanta lawyers of Billips & Benjamin, LLP urge Georgia employees to speak out about rampant fraud such as this – it costs the United States taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year. However, you need to contact a lawyer experienced in the False Claims Act before taking action in order to protect your interests and safeguard against retaliation.

Another common fraud trick used by doctors is to carry out medical procedures that are not medically necessary. For example, a doctor may run a wide spectrum of diagnostic tests on a patient, including x-rays and blood work, even though he or she already knows what's wrong with the patient. Such actions are prohibited under the False Claims Act. » Back to top
Defense Contract Fraud
Companies that win contracts for the United States Department of Defense are often under pressure to produce large quantities of product in very little time. As a result, fraud is an unfortunate but common occurrence. Employers may ask their employees to falsify timecards and other documents that imply extra hours spent on high-profit government projects.

In other cases, defense contractors committing the fraud may substitute parts that are either inferior or from sources other than those agreed upon in the contract. Employees who see violations such as these should not hesitate to report them, once they learn their rights. The qui tam lawyers at the Atlanta, Georgia firm of Billips & Benjamin, LLP can guide you through the process and protect you from any retaliatory actions.

Who Can Bring a Qui Tam Action?
Nearly anyone who has knowledge of fraud against the United States government may file a suit on behalf of the United States government. No matter whether you are a current employee, former employee, subcontractor, or competitor of the offending business, you may bring a False Claims Act lawsuit. » Back to top
The Qui Tam Process
Once you realize that your employer, competitor, etc. is engaging in fraud against the government, your next step should be to contact qualified qui tam lawyers such as those at the Atlanta firm of Billips & Benjamin, LLP. Our attorneys will examine your claim to determine its validity, then file copies of the complaint with the federal District Court, the U.S. Attorney for the District, and the Department of Justice.

If the government finds that the company is indeed committing fraud, the employee informant (known as a "relator") may be awarded a certain percentage of the total amount of the fraud.

Fraud hurts everyone, from employees coerced into illegal activity to the taxpayers who aren't getting what they're paying for. It is essential that fraud against the government be recognized and punished under our country's stringent qui tam laws. If you suspect that a company you've worked with is guilty of fraud, contact the qui tam lawyers of Billips & Benjamin, LLP located in Atlanta, Georgia. » Back to top