The False Claims Act recovers billions of dollars every year for the U.S. government and earns hundreds of millions of dollars a year for False Claims Act whistleblowers courageous enough to report fraud. When corporations commit fraud against the federal government, they are ultimately stealing money from taxpayers. Therefore, whistleblower’s recoveries for the government provide tremendous benefit to taxpayers. This is why the False Claims Act benefits from bi-partisan support in Congress. False Claims Act whistleblowers also help discourage corporations and individuals from trying to defraud the government. Whistleblowers help curtail this illegal financial siphoning and create better security for the American workforce and law-abiding companies.
Hagens Berman has successfully represented numerous False Claims Act whistleblowers across the financial, health care, military contractor, procurement and other sectors to expose corporate fraud against the government. Whistleblowers are required to have legal representation while building and pursuing False Claims Act cases, and our whistleblower attorneys diligently construct cases that will capture the federal government's attention.
FALSE CLAIMS ACT SUCCESS FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS
The False Claims Act has empowered thousands of whistleblowers to come forward with tips about fraudulent acts against federal and state governments that cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
Over the history of the False Claims Act, whistleblowers have received and been awarded almost $8 billion in rewards for exposing fraud through lawsuits under the False Claims Act. This is primarily due to amendments made to legislation in 1986 to encourage more whistleblowers to speak out. In 2020 alone, lawsuits under the False Claims Act recovered overe $2.2 billion for taxpayers.
In 2020, whistleblowers filed 672 False Claims Act lawsuits, averaging almost 13 new cases a week. Whistleblowers earned over $300 million in reporting False Claims Act fraud during that year.
Currently, whistleblowers receive between 15 and 30 percent of the government funds recovered in a successful False Claims Act case. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a report in January of 2021 discussing the success of the False Claims Act whistleblower program.
GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYER SUCCESS THANKS TO WHISTLEBLOWERS
The Department of Justice routinely points to victories for the government and U.S. taxpayers largely made possible by whistleblowers.
The DOJ secured more than $2.2 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims over the 2020 fiscal year. Of those victories, $1.6 billion was directly attributed to cases initiated by whistleblowers.
The work of the whistleblower is not only important for the protection of the U.S. Treasury and annual taxes collected. Monetary recovery obtained through fraud also safeguards the programs and benefits the government provides to its citizens.
When corporations and other businesses, for example, charge the government for more than what they provide, fraudulently induce government payments, receive government money through unlawful kickback arrangements, produce inferior goods or services, or submit falsified claims to earn payment, the adverse effects trickle down to every taxpayer and citizen. We all pay for fraud against the government.
TRUST YOUR CASE TO THE WHISTLEBLOWER LEGAL TEAM AT HAGENS BERMAN
The quality of legal representation you choose for your False Claims Act case greatly influences your chances of success. The nationally recognized legal team at Hagens Berman is known for a targeted and aggressive approach to fraud litigation and representation of whistleblower clients. We have repeatedly proven our skill in the courtroom and at the negotiating table.
When you place your whistleblower case in our hands, we begin work immediately to build a strong False Claims Act case using expertise and a commitment to maximize the recoveries available based upon a client’s information. Contact us today.
