False Claims Act/Qui Tam

This blog is about qui tam, a  lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act by a private plaintiff on behalf of the Federal or State Government (rather than by the Government itself). The False Claims Act was originally enacted by Congress in 1863, as a response to widespread abuses by government contractors against the Union Army during the Civil War. The qui tam provisions are now used widely and this blog is intended to keep readers up to date with all qui tam related news and to provide commentary when warranted.  This blog also contains an array of laws and regulations concerning qui tam set out in an easy to read format.

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National Whistleblower Center

Watchdog Groups Call on President to Support Stronger Whistleblower Protections

by Nolan and Auerbach on April 3, 2009

Our nation’s watchdog organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Government Employees, National Whistleblower Center and Project on Government Oversight, sent a letter to President Obama on April 1, 2009 urging that the government fulfill his campaign and transition policy commitments to strengthen whistleblower rights.

In the letter, the coalition asks the president to strongly endorse legislation that would protect from retaliation of federal employees who expose waste, fraud, abuse, suppression of federal research, and threats to public health and safety, and give them access to jury trials. The legislation would also direct federal government agency heads to institute “no-retaliation” policies for employees.

The groups are concerned that a signing statement issued by the president on March 11, attached to H.R. 1105, the omnibus spending bill, contradicts those earlier steps and could have a chilling affect on lawful whistleblowing disclosures, according to a press release about the letter on Project on Government Oversight’s website.

To read the letter, click here. For a copy of the POGO press release, go to http://www.pogo.org/pogo-files/alerts/whistleblower-issues/wi-wp-20090401.html.

For more information about qui tam law, whisleblowers and health care fraud, contact Nolan and Auerbach, PA.

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