Partner Shayne Stevenson Explains Qui Tam

Qui tam laws allow whistleblowers to act in a unique and powerful manner to report fraud and help the government recover funds. The law sets rewards and protections for whistleblowers. Historically, Qui tam laws have allowed whistleblowers who assist in the prosecution of a case to receive all or part of any penalty imposed by the court, and continue to provide whistleblowers with an opportunity to report fraud and protect their safety.

Hagens Berman's Shayne Stevenson explains qui tam law for whistleblowers, including how it defines whistleblowers and what kinds of actions qui tam allows.

According to Department of Justice statistics, most false claims actions are filed under the Act’s qui tam provisions. If the government prevails in the action, the whistleblower receives up to 30 percent of the recovery. The number of qui tam suits filed in fiscal year 2013 soared to 752—100 more than the record set the previous fiscal year.

Hagens Berman litigates whistleblower cases under qui tam laws, helping those who choose to report fraud and false claims against the government. We build robust, impactful cases for whistleblowers and get real results, regardless of governmental intervention. The firm is equipped to successfully litigate cases in these areas, as it has significant experience in related areas of the law. For instance, unlike some smaller qui tam firms who lack the resources to take on large corporations, Hagens Berman’s size and expertise enable it to engage even the biggest companies in sustained litigation, sometimes lasting years.

If you have knowledge of fraud and wish to speak to our legal team about becoming a whistleblower, fill out our contact form to notify us confidentially or send questions about qui tam whistleblower laws.