The term qui tam originates from a Latin phrase that is translated “he who sues on behalf of the king and for himself.” Qui tam claims were first used in the 13th century, and are used today by a person who files suit against another individual or corporation for defrauding the United States Government. The fraud is usually a violation of the False Claims Act, or other similar local and state laws. The person who brings the charges is also known as a “whistleblower”.
The action against Beverly Medical Care is a modern-day example of a qui tam action. The employees of Beverly Medical Care’s nursing homes were charged for exaggerating claims of the time they spent attending Medicare patients. The qui tam claim was successful, and Beverly Medical Care agreed to pay a $175 million settlement. These claims are similar to whistleblower cases because they are filed secretly and are often investigated by the FBI.
In order for a qui tam action to be founded upon publicly-disclosed information, the person filing the action must legally qualify as an original source. If you believe that you have a qui tam claim against your workplace, it is important to contact an Oregon employment law attorney before proceeding. Under the False Claims Act, the qui tam action must be filed within a certain time period following the violation of the Act in order to be eligible. If someone else files a False Claims lawsuit or helps to publicize similar allegations to yours, you may lose your right to file a qui tam suit altogether.
At HKM Employment Attorneys, we have extensive experience handling qui tam claims on the behalf of our clients. Act now to defend your right to file a claim before it is too late! Contact an Oregon qui tam lawyer at our firm now to receive dedicated legal counsel!
