False Claims Act

    The federal government's False Claims Act (Title 31, Subtitle III, Chapter 37, Subchapter III § 3729-§ 3733) provides for compensation for whistleblowers. The traditional name for cases which attempt to recover money defrauded from the king is Qui Tam litigation. Qui Tam is pronounced "kee tam" or "kway tam") and is an abbreviation from the Latin "qui tam pro domino rege quam pro sic ipso in hoc parte sequitur" meaning "who as well for the king as for himself sues in this matter."

    Although there is state protection of whistleblowers,[1] the federal False Claims Act provides generous financial incentive to help the government root out fraud. In 1986, the False Claims Act was strengthened to provide significant compensation to whistleblowers that successfully assist in claims of fraud against the federal government. It protects employee whistleblowers.

	Overview of False Claims Act
	§ 3729. False Claims
	§ 3730 Civil Actions for False Claims
	§ 3731 False Claims Procedure
	§ 3732 False Claims Jurisdiction
	§ 3733 Civil Investigative Demands
	Legal Theories in Qui Tam Actions