What is a Qui Tam (Whistleblower) Case? In a qui tam case is a
private individual brings an action against a company or an
individual who has defrauded the federal government. In exchange
for filing the initial action, disclosing the fraud to the
government, and assisting in the prosecution of the case the
individual receives part of any penalty imposed. The name qui
tam is an abbreviation of the Lat phrase qui tam pro domino rege
quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur, meaning “[he] who sues
in this matter for the king as [well as] for himself.” The False
Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et. seq., allows private
persons to bring a qui tam action against another who had
defrauded the federal government by knowingly presenting a false
claim for payment. A false claim may involve a false record,
receipt, statement or other representations made to the
government. In such actions, qui tam plaintiffs file suit on
behalf of themselves and the United States, and, if successful,
will be entitled to share in any rec