Hillsville, VA Whistleblower Lawyer & False Claims Act/Qui Tam Attorney
If you are aware of an individual, contractor, employer, or another party defrauding the government, you could help hold wrongdoers accountable by exposing the fraudulent conduct. Under the federal False Claims Act, you could also stand to collect between 15% and 30% of any settlement or compensation recovered by the government through a successful qui tam lawsuit.
If you have witnessed fraud against the government, we invite you to call The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. As a Hillsville whistleblower lawyer with decades of experience, firm-founding attorney Mark Hurt can explain the process for filing a qui tam lawsuit, as well as how we tenaciously seek to protect our whistleblower clients from illegal retaliation.
How Does a Qui Tam Action Under the False Claims Act Work?
Qui tam actions are not typical litigation matters for many reasons. First, they are brought under a specific provision of the United States False Claims Act, which governs proceedings related to government fraud. Second, qui tam suits are filed under seal, meaning a case is typically kept confidential by the whistleblower and government for significant periods. Often, an alleged fraudster will be unaware of a case for years while a federal investigation is conducted. Lastly, False Claims Act cases are typically not brought to completion by the individual who files the claim (called a “relator”); instead, the government has the option to take over a case after a thorough investigation.
How Long Do I Have to File A Qui Tam Lawsuit?
Relators only have a limited amount of time to file a qui tam lawsuit, as there are strict deadlines governing the filing of a claim, known as the “statute of limitations.” If a case is not timely filed, an individual can lose the opportunity to pursue significant compensation.
Under the False Claims Act, a quit tam lawsuit must be filed within six years after an alleged violation or three years after the government should have discovered the violation. As a Hillsville, VA whistleblower lawyer with decades of experience, Mark Hurt has filed successful qui tam lawsuits and recovered millions of dollars in compensation for the government (as well as significant compensation for whistleblower clients). If you would like to report fraud against the government, we invite you to call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss critical deadlines.
Has Your Firm Successfully Handled Any Qui Tam Cases?
Yes. For example, attorney Mark Hurt secured a $6.85 million settlement in a Medicaid fraud case brought by whistleblowers. Because whistleblowers are typically entitled to 15% to 30% of the funds recovered for the government, a whistleblower in a case such as this would be entitled to significant compensation.
It is critical to note that the first person to file a qui tam claim is typically entitled to the full reward if fraud is proven, even if another person discovered the wrongdoing. As such, it is vital for whistleblowers to maintain confidentiality and not divulge details to outside parties (other than an experienced Virginia False Claims Act attorney), as this can jeopardize their reward.
Can A Company Retaliate Against An Individual Who Reports Fraud or Files A Qui Tam Lawsuit?
The False Claims Act provides legal protections for whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting certain types of fraud. Unfortunately, after reporting fraud, many individuals still face retaliation, particularly if the misconduct involves an employer. For example, whistleblowers are frequently fired, demoted, or otherwise punished for alerting authorities to fraudulent practices. In these cases, a whistleblowing employee is usually entitled to bring a separate cause of action against an employer for illegal conduct, such as wrongful termination.
If you are considering taking steps to expose illegal conduct at your workplace, we urge you to contact our office before taking any action. As an experienced whistleblower protection attorney, Mark Hurt can seek to protect you from retaliation or termination. Alternatively, if you already took action and believe you are experiencing backlash, we can help.
At The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we work to proactively guard against undesirable retribution, constructing comprehensive plans to protect clients to the greatest extent possible from retaliation. While a company can always terminate or retaliate against an employee, they are less likely to do so if they know a whistleblower has secured the representation of experienced counsel.
What Types of Misconduct Can Lead to A Whistleblower Lawsuit in Virginia?
As a Hillsville qui tam lawyer with over two decades of experience, Mark Hurt is available to handle cases involving almost any type of fraud against the government, including violations of:
- Safety & Health Laws
- Environmental Legislation
- Healthcare Confidentiality Laws (HIPPA)
- Consumer Protection Laws
- Minimum Wage & Overtime Laws
- Medicare & Medicaid Laws
- Building Codes & Laws
- Financial Regulations
- Customs Laws
- Tax Laws
If You Are Considering Blowing the Whistle on Government Fraud, Call Our Office First To Schedule A Free Consultation With An Experienced Hillsville Qui Tam Attorney.
Qui tam actions that are thoroughly investigated have a greater chance of being taken over by the government. Because these cases are complex and subject to very different rules than other types of lawsuits, it will almost always be advantageous to consult with a False Claims Act attorney who can develop a compelling case from the outset. If you are considering blowing the whistle, we invite you to call our office to schedule a free consultation to learn how we may be able to help.
Client Review
“Words can’t begin to explain how appreciative I am for the services that the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt provided. I live out of state, so I was concerned about being present for a ticket I got for reckless driving. But, after speaking with Brooke about it, I felt relieved and confident that it would be taken care of in the most professional way possible and I was 100% right! Thank you so much for your kindness and professionalism in which you handled my case.”
Shana Graham
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