Qui-Tam/Whistleblower Causes of Action

Concerned and honorable physicians and health care providers have routinely reported past or present fraud committed against the Federal Government. The Qui-Tam laws allows a private citizen, known as a "relator," to file a lawsuit on behalf of the United States where that person has information that another citizen or corporation has knowingly submitted or caused a submission of false or fraudulent claims to the United States. This obviously includes Medicare.

If you have knowledge that a physician or hospital has engaged in the placement of unnecessary coronary stents, and has subsequently billed the Federal Government through Medicare for the procedures, you may have important legal rights. In return for the information provided by the "relator" the law authorizes that the "relator" receive a "partial assignment" of proceeds recovered because of the alleged fraud.

The case of Mehmood Patel, M.D is illustrative. Over the course of several years, Dr. Patel, an Interventional Cardiologist, placed stents unnecessarily in patients he was treating in Louisiana. Dr. Patel was eventually investigated and indicated by the United State's Attorneys Office. Ultimately, Dr. Patel was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

Christopher Mallavarapu, M.D., a colleague of Dr. Patel, filed a qui tam action in March of 2004 after Dr. Patel was indicted. The qui tam action was eventually settled for $3.8 million dollars. Dr. Mallavarapu received $760,000.00 of the 3.8 million as the "relator" in the qui tam case.

Qui tam actions are codified by the False Claims Act 31 U.S.C.§ 3729 - 3733. When concerned and moral consumers provide such information it is commonly referred to as whistle blowing. Individuals filing a qui tam case stand to receive between 15 and 25 percent of any recovered damages. The damages can be astronomical. Indeed, one whistleblower was awarded 51.5 million dollars as his portion of a settlement and fine paid in a qui tam matter.

The Justice Department has estimated that over one billion dollars has been recovered in whistle blower claims and lawsuits filed by private concerned citizens and their private counsel.

If you have knowledge of anyone who has performed unnecessary medical procedures and then submitted a false or fraudulent claim to any government agency or program, such as Medicare, please contact us today for an obligation free discussion and legal analysis as to whether the information you have may represent a qui tam case.