The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that it has collected a record $5.69 billion in settlements involving fraud and false claims against the government for fiscal year 2014. The largest recoveries were in mortgage fraud and healthcare fraud, where the government obtained $3.1 billion and $2.3 billion respectively. Recoveries in qui tam whistleblower cases (actions brought by a whistleblower, known as a relator) totaled nearly $3 billion.
“It has been an extraordinary year for civil fraud recoveries, but the true significance is not in breaking records or making history; it is in the billions of dollars restored to the federal treasury,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Joyce Branda.
“We acknowledge the men and women who have come forward to blow the whistle on those who would commit fraud on our government programs,” she said. “In strengthening and protecting the False Claims Act, Congress has given us the law enforcement tools that are so essential to guarding the treasury and deterring others from exploiting and misusing taxpayer dollars. We are grateful for their continued support.”
These recoveries are the direct result of people like you. Our clients identify fraud and work with us to pursue lawsuits that not only recover money for the government, but also create huge disincentives for companies to engage in fraud.
“Incentivized integrity programs work, and they work to not only collect stolen money and penalties, but to ferret out, discourage, and thwart continuing illegal actions,” says Patrick Burns, Co-Executive Director of Taxpayers Against Fraud in Washington, D.C. “The False Claims Act is a true public-private partnership between whistleblowers, their private counsel, and DOJ. Once again, it has proven to be the most effective tool government has to fight fraud for America’s taxpayers.”
If you are aware of government contracting fraud and are looking for a qui tam attorney to explore filing a federal False Claims Act or a state False Claims Act claim, Behn & Wyetzner, Chartered has years of expertise in this unique area of whistleblower law. Please feel free to contact us.