What Is a Qui Tam Action?
Qui tam (from the Latin qui tam pro domino rege quam pro sic ipso in hoc parte sequitur, meaning “who sues in this matter for the king as well as for himself”) is the traditional name for a civil lawsuit brought by an informant to recover a penalty or fine. The term is most commonly used today to describe a lawsuit brought under the federal False Claims Act, or similar state laws, which alleges that someone who received government funds defrauded the government. The plaintiff in a qui tam action is awarded a share of the money recovered from the defendant. The plaintiff’s share may be up to thirty percent of the amount recovered.
Qui Tam actions can be brought under the federal False Claims Act and are based on a person who informs the government of violations of law. These laws generally allow a qualified informant to receive a part of any recovery and/or penalty imposed upon a person or entity that violates the law. Some states also have laws similar to the federal False Claims Act.
