FALSE CLAIMS ACT (QUI TAM) ACTIONS
Clients who receive any form of funding from the federal government are subject to the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 372903733. Since 1986, the United States Department of Justice reports that verdicts in excess of $10 billion have been awarded under the Act. A national legal newspaper recently reported a $257 million dollar settlement by a pharmaceutical company. Individual health care providers are subject to the Act if Medicare monies are accepted. In this region, the primary use of this statute has been by former employees. The financial jeopardy from these claims is enormous because the Act provides for a mandatory civil penalties in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per claim.
Even though these claims often start as civil proceedings, there are federal criminal penalties for violations. In this region, with our extensive health law and criminal law, our team of lawyers are uniquely positioned to evaluate the claim and provide representation for both the civil and criminal consequences.
Farrell & Farrell accepts False Claims Act representations throughout the state of West Virginia and in proximate regions of Kentucky and Ohio as requested.