What is a qui tam case?
The legal mechanism that lets you sue fraud on the government's behalf — and get paid for it.
Qui tam is a provision of the False Claims Act that lets private citizens — called relators — file fraud lawsuits on behalf of the federal government. If the case recovers money, you get a share of it.
Key facts
- You file on behalf of the government, not on your own behalf
- The case is filed under seal — confidential from your employer and the public during the investigation
- If the case recovers money, you're eligible for 15%–30% as a reward
- You must file through an attorney — qui tam cases can't be filed pro se
- The first relator to file with the same material facts gets the reward — timing matters
- Retaliation against qui tam relators is illegal and has its own cause of action
Your submission stays confidential.
Frequently asked questions
It's a shortened Latin phrase that roughly translates to "he who sues on behalf of the king as well as for himself." In modern U.S. law, it refers to False Claims Act cases where a private citizen sues a defendant on behalf of the federal government.
Yes. Qui tam cases must be filed by an attorney — they cannot be filed by a self-represented individual. Choosing an attorney who specifically handles whistleblower cases is one of the most important decisions you'll make.