Qui tam is a legal term associated with the number of whistleblower protection laws for individuals who inform the government about fraud or other improprieties.

The phrase qui tam is short for the Latin expression “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro seipse,” which means “he who sues for the king as for himself.” Essentially, a Qui tam lawsuit is brought on by a private individual on behalf of the government in order to prevent abuse of funding and finances.

In the past, a great deal of Qui tam lawsuits have been brought by private individuals against defense contractors who engage in questionable billing activities, but in recent years more and more suits have been brought against a number of health care practitioners. Many of these investigations involve home health industries, accounting issues, and acute-care hospitals.

If you are one of the brave individuals who have taken it upon themselves to act on behalf of their government, you need protection against those who would revenge themselves upon you for your honesty and candor. Individuals who act on behalf of their country and government are generally entitled to a portion of the judgment, generally 10% of the settlement. Do it for yourself, and do it for your country. Contact a lawyer today.

What is Qui Tam?

Qui tam is the short version of the Latin phrase “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro seipse,” which translates to “he who sues for the king as himself.” These legal actions are some of the oldest legal traditions in Western History, for governments are always on vigilant for those who wish to steal public and private funds. Qui tam also plays on the notion that those who take risks and sacrifice themselves for the good of their government and country deserve protection and reward for their hardship.

The United States protects the so-called “whistleblower” with a number of laws including the 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act. These laws govern how qui tam cases are organized, investigated, and prosecuted, and also protect and reward those who are brave enough to step forward and speak their consciences.

These brave people embody the Code of Ethics for Government Service when they "put loyalty to the highest moral principles and devotion to country above loyalty to persons, party or Government department." It is often difficult to point out the truth when jobs, careers, and lives are at risk, but the government rewards this bravery with up to 30% of the punishment handed down to the fraudulent agency or contractor.