Whistleblowers play a vital part in ensuring our world is fairer and more just. Because of their valuable service to society, several laws protect whistleblowers against retaliation, and some laws even reward them for their bravery. One of the oldest and most important whistleblower acts is the False Claims...
In a qui tam lawsuit, a private individual brings an action on the government’s behalf. The False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §3729-3733) authorizes qui tam actions against parties who have defrauded the federal government. The whistleblower bringing the action, also called a relator, must inform the United States of...
Qui tam laws originated in 14th century England and enabled private citizens to enforce the king’s legislative priorities. The king paid them a bounty if they won. During the Civil War years, President Lincoln encouraged Congress to codify whistleblower bounty, or “qui tam,” laws to help prevent fraud by...