Georgia Whistleblower Lawyers
Lawyers in Georgia Who Fight for Whistleblowers
People have been stealing money from the government for as long as governments have existed. That’s why it’s important to have legal safeguards to protect government resources. The False Claims Act (FCA) helps prevent fraud by enabling private citizens to file a legal tort if they have direct knowledge about procurement fraud.
When somebody defrauds the federal government, they’re stealing money from every taxpayer. Money that ends up in the pocket of shady operators should have been spent on important matters, such as supporting our men and women in uniform and providing assistance for the elderly.
Our home state of Georgia is the location of several government establishments, all of which are susceptible to nefarious financial antics. This includes military bases and large hospitals where procurement, Medicaid, and Medicare fraud may occur, such as Fort Benning, Fort Stewart, Emory University Hospital, and Piedmont Regional Medical Center.
If you are a whistleblower who provides information that makes it possible for the federal government to recover damages from someone who has defrauded the government, then you have a right to keep a portion of the funds that the government recovers.
At Butler Prather LLP, we’ve been filing successful whistleblower claims for over 35 years, and we’ve won over a billion dollars for our clients. We’ll make sure your whistleblower claim has everything it needs to convince the government to pursue your case.
Call (706) 322-1990 to schedule a complimentary consultation today.
What Is a False Claims Act Whistleblower Tort?
The FCA was passed by Congress during the Civil War to prevent profiteering. In recent decades, provisions have been added to strengthen the FCA and provide additional protections for whistleblowers. To qualify as a whistleblower under FCA, you must have direct knowledge of procurement fraud.
Under FCA, a whistleblower is entitled to initiate a qui tam tort by filing a claim with the Attorney General of the United States. A whistleblower who initiates a qui tam tort is referred to as a realtor. There is a six-year deadline, and only one realtor is allowed to be part of a qui tam tort, so it’s important to file your tort as soon as possible.
After the realtor files a claim, the Justice Department will investigate the matter and decide if they want to pursue the case. If the Justice Department chooses to pursue your case, you will be eligible to receive between 15% and 20% of any funds recovered by the government.
If the Attorney General declines to initiate a qui tam tort, you still have the right to proceed with the case on your own, but you will be responsible for paying the prosecution costs. If you win a qui tam tort without government assistance, you are entitled to receive between 25% and 30% of the government recovery.
A realtor may be eligible to receive a significant reward in a qui tam tort because the government’s recovery will encompass the financial penalties one must pay for defrauding the federal government, including:
- Fines up to three times the amount of the government’s damages
- Additional fines of up to $27,018 for each offense
What Is Procurement Fraud Under the FCA?
A qui tam whistleblower tort may include collusion that occurs when parties secretly agree not to bid above a certain amount for a government contract. A bribe is a gift or monetary payment used to secure a government contract, and a kickback is a bribe paid after a government contract has been illegitimately awarded.
Fraudulent actions that may be prosecuted under FCA include:
- Knowingly presenting a misrepresentative claim to the government.
- Purchasing property from a government official who doesn’t have the right to sell it.
- Failure to return government property that you don’t have a right to possess.
- Making or using an illegitimate claim for the purpose of defrauding the government.
- Causing others to file a fraudulent claim for purposes of defrauding the government.
- Conspiring with others to defraud the government
- Creating false receipts, records, or statements.
Examples of Procurement Fraud in a Qui Tam Whistleblower Tort
There are several ways that someone may violate the FCA by defrauding or conspiring to defraud the federal government during the procurement process. Examples include:
- Providing bribes or kickbacks to a government official in order to receive a government contract when you haven’t made the lowest bid.
- Charging the government more than once for providing a good or service.
- Delivering defective, counterfeit, stolen, substandard, falsely certified goods.
- Inflating your costs on an invoice.
- Hiding your interest in a government contract by using dummy accounts or fake suppliers.
- Failure to deliver goods or services after charging the government for them.
- Charging Medicaid or Medicare for tests that patients do not receive.
- Improper testing or false certification of goods.
Finding the Right Attorney for Your Qui Tam Whistleblower Tort
Filing a claim for a whistleblower qui tam tort with the Attorney General of the United States is a serious undertaking. Your application must be flawless to receive consideration. You will want to choose a law firm like Butler Prather LLP that has decades of experience and a proven track record of success in FCA whistleblower cases. Our attorneys will file a comprehensive qui tam tort that clearly spells out how the FCA was violated, and we will provide the correct case law and legal precedents to support your claim.
Another serious concern for qui tam tort whistleblowers is protection from retaliation. In many cases, the whistleblower is filing a tort against their current employer. It is illegal for bosses and coworkers to threaten or intimidate a whistleblower in any way. Our lawyers will address any retaliation head-on, and this may include filing a lawsuit to protect you.
Are You Thinking About Filing a Qui Tam Whistleblower Tort?
At Butler Prather LLP, we have the necessary skills and experience to successfully pursue your qui tam tort. Our Savannah firm has a history of taking on powerful interests and winning. The talented litigators at Butler Prather LLP win landmark cases, and we serve clients in over 30 states.
Our Georgia attorneys will sit down with you and go over your options. Call (706) 322-1990 to learn more today.