What is the relationship between qui tam and the False Claims Act?
The False Claims Act can be enforced by private citizens, usually called whistleblowers by the public, using the special parts of the Act, known as the qui tam provisions. These special False Claims Act qui tam whistleblowers are a lot like “plaintiffs” in other civil lawsuits. However, these whistleblowers bringing False Claims cases are not referred to as plaintiffs, but are termed, in legal terms, “relators.” The False Claims Act can also be independently enforced by the United States Department of Justice, without resort to the qui tam provisions and without a whistleblower.
