Any individual that brings a qui tam action is referred to as the “relator.” There is much confusion surrounding who can bring a qui tam action and thus, become a relator. Relators need not be personally harmed by the defendant; rather, the qui tam action is generally based on the relator’s first hand, independent knowledge of the defendant’s wrongdoing.
The following is a look at some of the most common relators:
- Employees: Current employees will often bring qui tam actions after they have made unsuccessful attempts to stop the fraud from occurring at their workplace through internal company channels. However, employees can bring a qui tam action even if they were involved in the fraud or other wrongdoing and did not take action to stop it. Any employee who files a qui tam action is protected from workplace retaliation under the False Claims Act.
- Former Employees: A former employee has the right to bring a qui tam action, and most do so after losing their jobs because they reported their employer’s wrongful conduct.
- Contractors or Subcontractors: Contractors or subcontractors come in as generally independent contractors, but they work closely with the other individuals involved on the project. Sometimes, contractors or subcontractors will come across first hand information of fraud occurring against the government, which will usually give them the right to bring the qui tam action.
- Competitors: Competitors similarly interact frequently with rival businesses. In conversations and exchanges of information, a competitor business may come across direct evidence of false claims being submitted to the government.
This list is not all inclusive because the relator bringing the lawsuit need not have one specific type of relationship with the defendant. The most important and necessary requirement is that the relator possess information concerning fraud or wrongdoing which the general public would not be aware of.
The Important Role of the Relator
Our qui tam laws allow private individuals to blow the whistle on fraud being committed against the U.S. government. Our government does not have the resources to uncover and challenge every instance of fraud on its own. Accordingly, the government and the American taxpayers rely heavily on whistleblowers to uncover instances of fraud through their first-hand knowledge.
This reliance on whistleblowers appears to be effective. Between the years 2000 and 2006, the Department of Justice recovered over $12 billion in civil fraud actions. Whistleblowers accounted for $7 billion or 66 percent of these recoveries.
Recognizing the important of whistleblowers, Congress continues to strengthen whistleblower laws and increase awards so that individuals like you will come forward and expose costly fraud.
Barrett Law PLLC: Decades of Experience Assisting Relators in Qui Tam Actions Across Mississippi and the Southeast.
When individuals first set out exploring the whistleblower process, few are aware of what the term relator means and the sheer importance of their role in the qui tam action to follow. We hope the brief overview above gives you some preliminary information as to who can be a relator, what a relator does, and why the relator is so important. If you believe that fraud is occurring in your workplace, former workplace, or at a rival company, the Mississippi Qui Tam Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC can help. Since 1936, we have assisted qui tam relators in a wide variety of qui tam actions. We have the knowledge, experience, and dedication to strongly bring this highly complex action. For an individualized assessment of your potential qui tam action, call Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.