Qui tam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Qui tam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The writ fell into disuse in England and Wales following the Common Informers Act 1951 but, as of 2010, remains current in the United States under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C.3729 et seq., which allows for a private individual, or 'whistleblower,' with knowledge of past or present fraud committed against the federal government to bring suit on its behalf. This provision allows a private person, known as a 'relator,' to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States, where the private detective or other person has information that the named defendant has knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false or fraudulent claims to the United States. The relator need not have been personally harmed by the defendant's conduct; instead, the relator is recognized as receiving legal standing to sue by way of a 'partial assignment' of the injury to the government caused by the alleged fraud.[1] The information must not be public knowledge, unless the relator qualifies as an 'original source.'[2] There are also qui tam provisions in 35 U.S.C.���292 regarding false marking, 18 U.S.C.���962 arming vessels against friendly nations, 25 U.S.C.���201 violating Indian protection laws, and 46a U.S.C. 723 regarding the removal of undersea treasure from the Florida coast to foreign nations."