Qui tam is a legal term that refers to a provision in the False Claims Act, a federal law that allows private individuals to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States government against individuals or organizations that have defrauded the government. The term "qui tam" is short for the Latin phrase "qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur," which means "he who brings an action for the king as well as for himself."

Under the False Claims Act, private individuals, known as "relators," can bring a lawsuit against an individual or organization that they believe has defrauded the government. If the lawsuit is successful, the relator may be entitled to a share of the damages recovered by the government. The False Claims Act allows relators to bring qui tam actions against defendants that have defrauded a wide range of government programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and defense contracts.

Qui tam actions are often brought by whistleblowers, individuals who have inside knowledge of fraudulent activity and who come forward to report it to the government. Qui tam actions can be a powerful tool for combating fraud and holding accountable those who defraud the government, as they allow private individuals to bring lawsuits on behalf of the government and incentivize whistleblowers to report fraudulent activity.

Here are three things you may want to consider when discussing the topic of qui tam:

1. The purpose of qui tam actions: Qui tam actions are a provision of the False Claims Act, a federal law that allows private individuals to bring civil actions on behalf of the government against individuals or organizations that have defrauded the government. The purpose of qui tam actions is to incentivize whistleblowers to report fraudulent activity and to hold accountable those who defraud the government.

2. The role of relators: In a qui tam action, the private individual who brings the lawsuit on behalf of the government is known as a "relator." Relators can be whistleblowers who have inside knowledge of fraudulent activity, or they may be other individuals who have evidence of fraud. If a qui tam action is successful, the relator may be entitled to a share of the damages recovered by the government.

3. The types of fraud covered by qui tam actions: Qui tam actions can be brought against defendants that have defrauded a wide range of government programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and defense contracts. Qui tam actions can be an effective tool for combating fraud in these programs and protecting taxpayers' money.

Attorneys working on qui tam cases may be responsible for a wide range of tasks, including:

• Advising relators on their legal rights and options

• Representing relators in court proceedings

• Negotiating settlements or plea bargains on behalf of relators or defendants

• Drafting and reviewing legal documents related to the case

• Researching and analyzing legal principles and precedents

• Advocating for the rights and interests of their clients

Overall, attorneys play a critical role in qui tam cases by providing legal representation and advice to relators and defendants, and by advocating for the rights and interests of their clients.