False Claims Act & Qui Tam Lawyer
Employees and insiders are almost always the first to see fraud against the government: the Medicare claim for care that was never given, the defense contractor billing for work it never did, the importer relabeling goods to dodge customs duties, the pandemic-relief loan built on numbers that were never true. Reporting that fraud takes courage, and the law that rewards it is deliberately technical. The federal False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729–3733, is a federal law aimed at combating fraud against the government. It makes it illegal to knowingly present a false or fraudulent claim for government payment, and it lets a private citizen, called a relator, file a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the United States and share in whatever the government recovers. False Claims Act enforcement actions reached a record $6.8 billion in fiscal year 2025, and whistleblower-filed qui tam cases drove more than $5.3 billion of that total.
I am Stephen Teller. For more than twenty-five years I have represented the person who decides to stand up to a powerful organization. Teller Law is a whistleblower law firm representing False Claims Act and qui tam whistleblowers nationwide from Seattle, and I handle these False Claims Act matters personally. These cases turn on federal procedures and close interaction with government agencies, and I have helped whistleblowers and the government recover tens of millions of dollars from companies that cheated federal programs.
Individuals who suspect fraud against a government program are encouraged to call me at (206) 324-8969 for a free, confidential consultation. That first conversation carries no obligation, it is protected, and it is used to understand the facts, weigh whether further investigation is warranted, and explain the options before any action is taken. Confidentiality is critical in False Claims Act cases, so it is best to speak with a lawyer before discussing the matter with anyone else.
What Does a False Claims Act and Qui Tam Lawyer Do?
A False Claims Act lawyer first evaluates whether the facts fit the statute, then protects the whistleblower while the case moves forward. Qui tam lawsuits are filed under seal to protect the whistleblower’s identity, and they are served on the government rather than the defendant. A qui tam case must also rest on original, non-public information, so part of my role is helping clients gather and preserve evidence lawfully before anything is filed.
My work is to build the clearest possible picture of the fraudulent claims, prepare the complaint and the detailed written disclosure the government requires, and give federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office a concrete reason to intervene. False Claims Act attorneys need real experience in federal procedures and interaction with government agencies, and I stay involved through the entire investigative process, from the first confidential review to any settlement negotiations or recovery. The precise sequence is laid out in my guide to filing a qui tam lawsuit, and the law behind it is explained in my overview of what the False Claims Act is and how qui tam works.
Who Does Teller Law Represent in Whistleblower Cases?
The strongest qui tam cases come from people on the inside. My whistleblower clients are current and former employees, contractors and subcontractors, corporate executives, auditors, clinicians, and industry professionals with specific, first-hand knowledge of fraud. Corporations and competitors can also serve as relators and file lawsuits when they can document fraud in their industry. What matters is direct, documented knowledge rather than suspicion or rumor.
Because the False Claims Act is a federal law, a qui tam case can be pursued no matter where the whistleblower lives. I represent whistleblowers in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Alaska, and throughout the United States. Fraud against federal programs, from defense contracting to customs to federal health care, is handled under the federal Act regardless of the relator’s home state.
What Types of Fraud Can Lead to a Qui Tam Case?
The False Claims Act applies to individuals or businesses that contract with or bill the government, and almost any scheme that cheats a government program can support a case. Healthcare fraud is the largest category of False Claims Act litigation, but procurement fraud in government contracting is close behind. The false claims act cases I handle include:
- Medicare and Medicaid fraud; Medicare fraud is a common type of healthcare fraud and includes upcoding, billing for services never rendered, and illegal kickbacks.
- Government contractor and defense procurement fraud; defense contractor fraud involves overcharging the government, false labor reporting, defective products, and false certifications.
- COVID-19 relief and PPP loan fraud, where relief funds were obtained or kept through false statements.
- Import and customs fraud, including misclassifying, undervaluing, or misstating the country of origin of goods to avoid tariffs and duties.
- Off-label pharmaceutical and medical device marketing, where the government is billed for uses of drugs or medical devices that were never approved.
- Student loan and for-profit education fraud, where institutions take federal funds while falsifying records.
- Mortgage and loan certification fraud, including false quality certifications on government-backed loans.
Government contract fraud and government-funded research grant fraud can also qualify. When a matter falls outside the False Claims Act, I can help identify whether another federal whistleblower reward program may apply.
What Has Teller Law Recovered for Whistleblowers?
I have recovered millions of dollars for clients and for the government in whistleblower and fraud matters. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, but they show the kinds of cases I handle:
- I helped secure a $40 million recovery in a rural health care program overpayment matter.
- I obtained a $1.25 million whistleblower retaliation verdict that was upheld by the Court of Appeals.
- In a customs and import duties case against BidBuy Auctions, the company paid $430,000 to resolve allegations that it undervalued imported light trucks to avoid duties; the whistleblower received 23 percent of the recovery, nearly $100,000.
- In United States ex rel. Nicol v. Divers Institute of Technology, a school falsified student income data to take $805,000 in federal student aid and was ordered to repay treble damages; the whistleblower received roughly $400,000.
- In a Department of Energy contracting matter at the Hanford Site, a whistleblower I represented was awarded $1.4 million after coming forward about fraudulent labor reporting.
Additional matters are described on my False Claims Act and qui tam results page.
How Are Whistleblowers Rewarded Under the False Claims Act?
A successful qui tam whistleblower generally receives between 15 and 30 percent of what the government recovers, and may also recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs from the defendant (31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)). Defendants may be ordered to pay three times the government’s losses, so the amounts at stake can be significant. The full breakdown of how the reward is calculated, including the difference between an intervened and a declined case, is explained on my False Claims Act overview.
Are Whistleblowers Protected From Retaliation?
Yes. The False Claims Act provides legal protection against employer retaliation, and it is illegal to fire, demote, or harass an employee for reporting or trying to stop fraud against the government. Under 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h), a retaliated-against whistleblower may be entitled to reinstatement, double back pay, and other damages. A retaliation claim can be pursued together with or separately from the sealed qui tam case, though the timing raises important strategic issues. I address these protections in detail on my pages about whistleblower protection and illegal retaliation.
Why Is Acting Quickly So Important?
Two features of the law reward moving early. Under the first-to-file bar, only the first relator to bring a set of allegations can recover on them, and a qui tam case must rest on original, non-public information, so waiting or discussing the fraud with anyone other than a lawyer can cost the case. Strict deadlines also apply, and a case generally cannot be filed more than ten years after the fraud. The specific time limits for filing are set out on my overview, and they are reason enough to seek counsel as soon as fraud is suspected.
How Does Teller Law Handle a Qui Tam Case?
At a high level, I review the evidence confidentially, file the complaint under seal, and serve the government with a detailed disclosure. A government investigation follows, after which the government either intervenes and joins the case or declines and lets me pursue it; when the government intervenes, it brings its vast resources to the matter. A successful qui tam case typically takes years to resolve, moving through the investigation, settlement negotiations, and, if necessary, litigation before the assigned judge. Each of these steps, and what a whistleblower should and should not do along the way, is covered in my step-by-step guide to filing a qui tam lawsuit.
What Does It Cost to Hire a Qui Tam Lawyer?
I handle qui tam cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no attorney’s fee unless the case results in a recovery. Successful relators may also recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs from the defendant. More detail is available on my fees page.
Individuals who believe they have witnessed fraud against a federal or state program are encouraged to call Teller Law at (206) 324-8969 for a free and confidential consultation. It is best to speak with a lawyer before discussing the matter with anyone else.
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