David Haron acted as moderator and presenter for an ABA Business Law Section CLE Teleconference and Audio Webcast discussing “Qui Tam: What Business Lawyers Need to Know.”

Federal and state False Claims Acts allow a private person to file a sealed lawsuit (a qui tam suit) to recover monies wrongfully paid to a government contractor by federal or state governments as a result of false claims the defendant made to the government. For example, if a hospital is overcharging Medicare or Medicaid, an employee or other person can file a sealed qui tam lawsuit that will trigger an investigation, allow the government to recover up to triple damages as well as fines and penalties, and potentially, pay a handsome reward.

The teleconference covered:

• How a whistleblower brings a Qui Tam suit.

• How a company can avoid being the target through the use of compliance mechanisms.

• How a company should react to internal complaints made by potential whistleblowers

• Issues involving the employment status of whistleblowers.

• The use of internal investigations, releases, confidentiality and severance agreements.

• What to do when the government gets involved and the FBI comes knocking.

Frank, Haron, Weiner & Navarro is the preeminent Qui Tam law firm in Michigan and one of the leading firms in the nation. We counsel whistleblowers in all aspects of fraud investigation and Qui Tam litigation, assist them in redressing retaliation, and, through the knowledge gained in such representation, counsel employers and business entities in compliance matters and in the implementation of procedures and policies designed to avoid such actions.