It is a sad fact that there always was always will be people that exploit their positions to steal from the government. Fraud is a widespread crime and it is not always easy to catch the perpetrators. Those guilty of defrauding the government salve their consciences by convincing themselves that it is not really wrong to take from the government. Upstanding citizens can, however, help fight this scourge. Being represented by a whistleblower attorney Seattle residents can bring this type of criminal to task.
As far back as during the civil war President Lincoln enacted the False Claims Act. This was done due to the inordinate numbers of false claims lodged by suppliers that were hired to supply the Union Army. This act is still valid, but it has been amended in 1986 to include new categories of fraud and corruption. It remains the most effective tool for citizens to combat theft from the government.
The False Claims Act allows for qui tam. This basically means he that brings a claim on behalf of the Lord king and himself. Any citizen can therefore bring to light information that he believes evidences to be a violation of any law or regulation that leads to losses to the tax payer. Gross waste of funds, mismanagement and abuse of authority can all be reported in terms of this act.
The False Claims Act makes it worthwhile for ordinary citizens to formally lodge criminal cases against fraudsters. The Act makes provision for rewarding such a citizen with between 15 and 25 per cent of the money recovered from the case. This reward can be extremely large, since those found guilty are fined three times the amount involved in the case plus civil fines of up to 11 000 dollar. This reward can indeed serve as a powerful motivator.
Private citizens filing this type of case are called relators. If they wish to share in the amount recovered during the case, they have to pursue it with their own lawyers. Almost two thirds of moneys recovered in such cases are due to cases filed by private citizens. The rewards awarded these plaintiffs can be very substantial. Lawyers specializing in this field routinely accept cases on a contingency basis.
When a case in terms of the False Claims Act is filed, it is sealed for sixty days. This means that the defendant is not notified of the case in order to allow the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. The Justice Department also needs time to make sure that the case was not filed frivolously or even out of spite.
When approaching a lawyer, it is vital to present as much evidence as is possible. It is no use pursuing a case on the basis of hearsay or suspicions. Because these cases are taken on a contingency basis, the lawyer will need to make certain that there is a reasonable chance of success in court.
Fraud, in any form, is reprehensible. Anyone that learns about such actions should report it. The fact that those that do report such cases and that pursue them in court are rewarded should act as a powerful incentive. It is important, however, to use a lawyer that is experienced in this legal field.
As far back as during the civil war President Lincoln enacted the False Claims Act. This was done due to the inordinate numbers of false claims lodged by suppliers that were hired to supply the Union Army. This act is still valid, but it has been amended in 1986 to include new categories of fraud and corruption. It remains the most effective tool for citizens to combat theft from the government.
The False Claims Act allows for qui tam. This basically means he that brings a claim on behalf of the Lord king and himself. Any citizen can therefore bring to light information that he believes evidences to be a violation of any law or regulation that leads to losses to the tax payer. Gross waste of funds, mismanagement and abuse of authority can all be reported in terms of this act.
The False Claims Act makes it worthwhile for ordinary citizens to formally lodge criminal cases against fraudsters. The Act makes provision for rewarding such a citizen with between 15 and 25 per cent of the money recovered from the case. This reward can be extremely large, since those found guilty are fined three times the amount involved in the case plus civil fines of up to 11 000 dollar. This reward can indeed serve as a powerful motivator.
Private citizens filing this type of case are called relators. If they wish to share in the amount recovered during the case, they have to pursue it with their own lawyers. Almost two thirds of moneys recovered in such cases are due to cases filed by private citizens. The rewards awarded these plaintiffs can be very substantial. Lawyers specializing in this field routinely accept cases on a contingency basis.
When a case in terms of the False Claims Act is filed, it is sealed for sixty days. This means that the defendant is not notified of the case in order to allow the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. The Justice Department also needs time to make sure that the case was not filed frivolously or even out of spite.
When approaching a lawyer, it is vital to present as much evidence as is possible. It is no use pursuing a case on the basis of hearsay or suspicions. Because these cases are taken on a contingency basis, the lawyer will need to make certain that there is a reasonable chance of success in court.
Fraud, in any form, is reprehensible. Anyone that learns about such actions should report it. The fact that those that do report such cases and that pursue them in court are rewarded should act as a powerful incentive. It is important, however, to use a lawyer that is experienced in this legal field.
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