qui tam lawsuit

A qui tam lawsuit is a legal action filed by an individual, known as a whistleblower, on behalf of the government against someone or an organization that has committed fraud against government programs. If the lawsuit uncovers wrongdoing, the whistleblower can potentially receive a portion of the recovered funds as a reward. This legal provision encourages individuals to report fraud that might otherwise go undetected, helping to protect public resources and ensure accountability in government spending.