What is the Massachusetts False Claims Act?
The Massachusetts False Claims Act is a law which empowers people with evidence of fraud against the Government to file a complaint to recover triple the amount which has been defrauded from the Government, and to receive a monetary reward for doing so. The law applies to cases where someone has committed a fraud against: (a) The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any County, City, Town or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or (b) any Public Benefit Corporation within the Commonwealth, or (c) any government contractor, subcontractor or grantee so long as the Commonwealth or a political subdivision is providing any portion of the money being requested or demanded by those committing the fraud. As compensation for their efforts, a person who files such a complaint, (known as the “relator”) can receive a monetary award, typically between 15% and 30% percent of the total amounts recovered by, or for, the Government.
