Florida DOJ Reward & Whistleblower Program Lawyer

In an effort to help put a stop to widespread fraud, Congress enacted the False Claims Act, which protects whistleblowers who step forward and report fraud and misconduct in federal government programs and contracts. To further encourage whistleblowers, the Department of Justice (DOJ) instituted a reward program that pays between 15 and 30 percent of the funds recovered by the government to the whistleblower who made the initial complaint. There are, however, a number of rules that whistleblowers must follow in order to file a successful claim, so if you have evidence of fraud being committed against the government, you should reach out to a Florida DOJ reward & whistleblower program lawyer who can advise you throughout the process.

The DOJ’s Whistleblower Reward Program

There are actually a few government whistleblower reward programs that pay monetary awards to those who report fraud against the government. The IRS and SEC, for instance, both have their own whistleblower reward programs to help identify those who cheat on their taxes or commit fraud on stockholders. The largest of these programs, however, is run by the DOJ under the False Claims Act. This program specifically rewards claimants for reporting any type of fraud against a federal agency or program, including Medicare and Homeland Security.

Whistleblowers who file reports of fraudulent practices can recover between 15 and 30 percent of what the government later recovers, rather than the amount that was lost. This often proves to be a large sum, as the False Claims Act allows the government to collect treble damages, or an amount equal to three times the amount of money that it lost to the fraud. How much a person could receive depends on a number of factors, but is based primarily on the strength of the evidence provided by the whistleblower.

Filing a Qui Tam Lawsuit

Cases filed under the False Claims Act are considered “under seal,” which means that the complaint and evidence in support of the claim will only be seen by the DOJ, the U.S. Attorney, and a federal district court judge. While the complaint is under seal, it will be investigated by the DOJ, which typically involves interviewing the claimant, requesting access to documentation, consulting with agency personnel and experts, and interviewing other witnesses. At the conclusion of the investigation, the DOJ will decide whether or not it will take over litigation of the case. If the agency decides not to intervene, the whistleblower still has the option of pursuing the case in court. In the event that a claimant is successful in this endeavor, he or she can expect to receive a larger portion of the court’s award.

Reach Out to a Florida DOJ Reward & Whistleblower Program Lawyer for Help

Filing a qui tam lawsuit can be complicated, so if you have concerns about fraud and misconduct in a federal program, you should speak with a Florida DOJ reward and whistleblower lawyer at Rabin Kammerer Johnson who can ensure that your interests are protected throughout the claim filing process. You can reach us at our office by calling 561-659-7878 today.