Qui tam actions: best practices for relator's counsel.

Abstract

The False Claims Act empowers the U.S. Government to identify and prosecute fraud. It does so in no small part by engaging qui tam relators who, with their attorneys, are deputized under the Act to help investigate and prosecute these cases. By combining the insight and industry-specific knowledge of the citizenry with the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the government, Congress attempted to facilitate a united front against pervasive fraud and abuse by government contractors, an aggressive effort that has borne fruit, recovering funds and protecting important federal programs. This Article proposes ways in which relators' counsel and government attorneys can work together more effectively in these cases to achieve the goals of the statute.