Qui Tam Statistics

(as of October, 1994)

Record Recoveries

In October, 1994, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported total qui tam recoveries of more than $800 million over the eight year period since passage of the 1986 False Claims Act Amendments. Fiscal year 1994 was by far the most productive year for qui tam cases, with $378 million in recoveries, more than twice the total from the previous year. Overall False Claims Act recoveries topped $1 billion in 1994.

The $800 million in recoveries resulted from 90 cases in which DOJ intervened. Qui tam relators who proceeded without DOJ collected approximately an additional $9 million in recoveries. The total recoveries by fiscal year are approximated as follows:

        FY 1987:     $200,000        FY 1991:    $36 million
        FY 1988:     $400,000        FY 1992:    $125 million
        FY 1989:     $32.5 million   FY 1993:    $185 million
        FY 1990:     $40 million     FY 1994:    $378 million

Filings on Steady Increase

Approximately 840 qui tam lawsuits have been filed since the 1986 Amendments, with the number of cases increasing each year.

        FY 1987:    32 cases        FY 1991:      90 cases
        FY 1988:    60 cases        FY 1992:    119 cases
        FY 1989:    95 cases        FY 1993:    130 cases
        FY 1990:    82 cases        FY 1994:    220 cases

DOJ reports that nearly half of these cases (402) involve DOD fraud and almost a quarter of the cases (189) involve fraud in HHS programs (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.).

Many Cases in the Pipeline

Approximately half of the 840 qui tam cases filed are still pending. DOJ has intervened in 127 cases (with 90 resolved), declined 455 cases, and is currently investigating about 222 cases.

If you have questions about the law or are interested in pursuing a qui tam lawsuit, please feel free to contact us at:

Taxpayers Against Fraud The False Claims Act Legal Center 1220 19th Street, N.W. Suite 501 Washington, D.C. 20036

Phone: 202-296-4826 Toll Free: 1-800-USFALSE (1-800-873-2573) FAX: 202-296-4838 Auto-Reply E-Mail: taf-info@taf.org E-Mail: ams@taf.org (Alan Shusterman, Esq.)

Be aware that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when sending e-mail via the Internet. If you have any concerns about confidentiality, please contact us by phone or U.S. mail.