Government Contracting Fraud Lawyer
When corporations that have contracts with the federal government overbill or do not provide the product/service promised, they are defrauding the government. This can cost the government billions of dollars in lost revenue. Often, government contracting fraud goes undetected until someone within the corporation comes forward. Under the False Claims Act, those with information on government contracting fraud can file a lawsuit against the corporation for damages.
What Is the False Claims Act?
Defrauding the government is not a new concept. Businesses have been doing it as long as they have been providing goods or services to the government. The False Claims Act was started in 1863 to combat government fraud perpetrated by defense contractors in the Civil War. It helped uncover businesses that were overcharging or providing poor products to the government, allowing for reimbursement. Since then, there have been provisions added to reward those who uncover government contracting fraud by giving them a portion of the recovered funds.
Filing a Whistleblower Lawsuit
Under the False Claims Act, those who witness or have information about a government contractor committing fraud can file a lawsuit against the company. This is called a whistleblower, or Qui Tam lawsuit, and protects the filer from retaliation from the defendant. In addition to protection, if the government finds evidence of fraud due to the information provided from the plaintiff, they can receive 15-30% of the funds recovered. This can be a substantial amount of money, often millions of dollars.
If you have information about a defense contractor, medical facility or other government contractor that has been defrauding the government, contact Ligori & Sanders Attorneys at Law today to schedule a consultation. We can listen to your claim and advise you on your options. You could be eligible to file a Qui Tam lawsuit and receive a large payout for your assistance uncovering government fraud.