Qui Tam FAQ

A qui tam action allows private citizens to file lawsuits in the name of the United States government against contractors or others who fraudulently receive or use government funds.

What are some forms of fraudulent actions?
Defective pricing, false certification of entitlement benefits, mischarging, and product and service substitution are all common fraudulent actions that may be revealed in a qui tam action.

How is qui tam related to the False Claims Act?
The False Claims Act is the piece of legislation that allows citizens to take a qui tam action and bring a lawsuit against those who fraudulently receive or use government funds.

Where does the term qui tam come from?
Qui tam is an abbreviation from the Latin phrase “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro sic ipso in hoc parte sequitur”, which translates to “he who as well for the king as for himself sues in this manner”. Enforcement of qui tam principles dates back to the Middle Ages.

How much money has been returned to the U.S. Treasury from qui tam law suits?
Since 1986 over $20 billion has been returned to the U.S. Treasury, with over $1.8 billion of this amount going to relators.