How does an individual recover money in a qui tam action?
A. To be eligible to recover money under the Act, one must file a qui tam lawsuit. A relator (i.e., qui tam plaintiff) receives an award only if, and after, the government recovers money from the defendant as a result of the lawsuit. A relator can receive between 15 and 30 percent of the total recovery from the defendant, whether through a favorable judgment or settlement. If the government intervenes and joins an action brought by a relator, the relator generally is eligible to receive at least 15 percent, but not more than 25 percent, of the recovery, depending upon the relator’s contribution to the prosecution of the action. If the government chooses not to intervene and the relator proceeds with the action on his own, the relator can receive between 25 and 30 percent of the recovery. Q. Is it illegal to retaliate against an employee for filing a qui tam action? A. Yes. Under Section 3730(h) of the False Claims Act, any employee who is discharged, demoted, harassed, or otherwise dis
