Oberheiden P.C. is pleased to announce that the firm’s whistleblower lawyers are now accepting qui tam cases nationwide. The qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act allow whistleblowers to help the government prosecute companies and individuals for fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA). Whistleblowers can initiate qui tam cases under the False Claims Act involving FWA in all federal contracts, grants, and programs, and the False Claims Act provides protections and financial rewards to eligible individuals.
According to the firm’s founding attorney, Nick Oberheiden, PhD, “By expanding our qui tam practice nationwide, we hope to be able to work with whistleblowers across the country who have information about fraud perpetrated against the United States government. Fraud under federal contracts, grants, and programs can take many forms, and qui tam whistleblowers can expose all forms under the False Claims Act.”
Dr. Oberheiden continues, “Our team is well-equipped to represent whistleblowers, who are also referred to as qui tam relators, in these cases. Each qui tam attorney at our firm has extensive experience, and some of our attorneys previously prosecuted False Claims Act violations at the U.S. Department of Justice.”
Procurement fraud, billing fraud, and other means of submitting “false or fraudulent claims” to the federal government are all common, says Dr. Oberheiden. “Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers can file qui tam lawsuits involving any means of improperly obtaining government funds. While intentional fraud is required to substantiate criminal charges, intent is not required to establish a civil False Claims Act violation.”
Oberheiden P.C. is accepting cases involving both intentional and inadvertent violations, and Dr. Oberheiden emphasizes that prospective whistleblowers do not need to be certain whether a violation was intentional. “In fact,” he says, “we encourage individuals to come forward even if they aren’t sure that they have evidence of fraud against the government. Most prospective whistleblowers aren’t completely sure whether they are eligible to file, and, as whistleblower lawyers, our first job is to help ensure that our clients are making informed decisions.”
Whistleblowers who file qui tam lawsuits are entitled to confidentiality under the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act also prohibits employers from retaliating against whistleblowers if they disclose their identities. “In the vast majority of cases, whistleblowers’ identities will remain unknown — as long as whistleblowers do not disclose their identities themselves,” says Dr. Oberheiden. “But, just in case, the False Claims Act includes anti-retaliation provisions as well.”
“While many whistleblowers are simply motivated by a desire to do the right thing, in addition to providing whistleblower protections, the False Claims Act also provides for whistleblower rewards in appropriate cases.” Dr. Oberheiden continues, “If a qui tam lawsuit leads to a successful enforcement action, a qui tam relator is generally entitled to between 15% and 30% of the amount the government recovers.”
Since its enactment, the False Claims Act has helped the federal government recover billions of dollars in taxpayer funds lost to fraudulent practices. This includes defense contractor fraud, fraud under other government contracts, healthcare fraud (including Medicare and Medicaid fraud), and fraud under federal programs like the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). According to Dr. Oberheiden, once a whistleblower files a lawsuit on the government’s behalf, if the investigation uncovers evidence of fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice can pursue civil or criminal enforcement, depending on the nature of the fraud.
Oberheiden P.C. is currently scheduling free initial consultations with prospective False Claims Act whistleblowers. “If you have, or think you may have, information about fraud perpetrated against the U.S. government, we want to hear from you,” says Dr. Oberheiden. “Our attorneys can help you make an informed decision about whether to file a qui tam lawsuit — and, if you decide to move forward, our attorneys will file your lawsuit in federal district court and then work with the U.S. Department of Justice on your behalf.”
Dr. Oberheiden says the firm is handling all qui tam lawsuits on a contingency-fee basis. He says the firm’s clients will not have to pay any legal fees or costs out of pocket, and the firm’s legal fees, if any, will be calculated as a percentage of a client’s whistleblower award if their case is successful.
About Oberheiden P.C.
Oberheiden P.C. is a nationally practicing law firm with a focus on white-collar, national security, company audits, and federal litigation cases. Clients from 48 states have hired our team of former Justice Department prosecutors, former federal agents, and veteran litigation attorneys to protect their reputation, financial safety, and freedom. For more information, visit federal-lawyer.com.
Disclaimer
Oberheiden P.C. is a whistleblower law firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with a nationwide network of senior attorneys and consultants. The firm’s whistleblower lawyers are available to assist clients throughout the United States with exposing fraud, waste, abuse, and other violations of federal law.
Media Contact
Nick Oberheiden
Founding Attorney, Oberheiden P.C.
nick@federal-lawyer.com
+1 888-680-1745
