Background

Employment Attorney Raymond Nardo represented four employees of a major defense contractor in a qui tam federal whistleblower case. The employees claimed that the defense contractor overbilled, and thereby defrauded the United States of America.

Qui tam, or the False Claims Act (FCA), also known as the “Lincoln Law,” was enacted in 1863 under President Abraham Lincoln’s administration. It allows employees to blow the whistle on fraud against the United States government and receive a portion of the recovered funds. When a qui tam case is filed, it is typically done under seal to allow the government to investigate thoroughly. Filing under seal allows sensitive or confidential information to be filed in court without becoming a matter of public record. Depending on the government's decision, parts of the case may be unsealed. The government's discretion in unsealing the case allows the defendant to become aware of the allegations against them while still protecting the whistleblower's identity, minimizing the risk of retaliation.

THE CASE

After the case was filed under seal, it was investigated and reviewed by the United States Attorney's Office.  After a period of time, the United States government unsealed the case and intervened in the lawsuit. Throughout the complex qui tam process, Employment Attorney Raymond Nardo pursued the case against the defense contractor for false billing and overbilling and protected the interests of the whistleblowers.

CONCLUSION

The whistleblowers were vindicated. The case settled for more than $4 million and, as is common in qui tam settlements, the majority of the recovery was collected by the United States government. This victory underscores the importance of legal expertise in qui tam cases. It serves as a reminder of the crucial role of legal advocacy in giving employees the tools to blow the whistle on corrupt employment practices. Employment Attorney Raymond Nardo has handled many qui tam cases. The Law Office of Raymond Nardo offers consultations to address any concerns about whistleblowing in the workplace.