What types of situations are covered under the False Claims Act?
• Submitting or preparing a false record or statement in order to get a false or fraudulent claim paid by the government • Conspiring with another individual or company to have a false or fraudulent claim paid by the government • Creating or giving to the government a false receipt for its property • Making a false statement to avoid paying a debt to the government or to avoid delivering property to the government • Causing someone else to submit a false or fraudulent claim • Billing for expensive equipment but providing cheaper equipment • Up-coding schemes (billing for a higher service than was performed) and unbundling (charging for individual services that should be “bundled” into one charge) In 2006 alone, the U.S. government recovered more than $3 billion in settlements and judgments related to qui tam lawsuits filed by private citizens (relators). In a successful qui tam lawsuit, the relator will receive 10% to 30% of the recovered funds. What are the conditions to consider when
