The federal False Claims Act allows a whistleblower who uncovers fraud in a research grant to file a civil lawsuit on behalf of the government. If you have uncovered fraud connected to a research grant, the whistleblower lawyers at Miller Law Group can help you combat waste and abuse of taxpayer money.
The False Claims Act provides a private right of action when false claims are submitted to the government for funding. This right of action—known as the qui tam provision—allows a private whistleblower to file suit on behalf of the government. If successful, the whistleblower is entitled to a share of the funds recovered. Damages are measured by multiplying the total amount of fraud by three and adding civil penalties of between $5,000 and $10,000 for each instance of fraud. The Act also provides the whistleblower protections from retaliation.
In the context of grants, false claims can come in many forms. For example, an application may include fabricated data, misrepresent those involved in the research, or misrepresent the source of the research. Similar misrepresentations may be found in status reports attempting to obtain approval for the next phase in a grant.
If you have discovered fraud connected to a research grant, contact Miller Law Group today for a free consultation or call us at (919) 348-4361.
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Does the whistleblower need to prove intent to defraud?
