Definitions for "Qui Tam"
a provision of the Federal False Claims Act that allows private citizens, also known as whistleblowers, to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government against persons who use government funds in a fraudulent way.
Short for qui tam action, it means that U.S. citizens may take legal action on behalf of their government, such as filing lawsuits. For example, a whistleblower who works for a company that provides services to the Federal Government under contract, may sue the company in court under the False Claims Act for defrauding the Federal Government. Better yet, the whistleblower will receive a fair share of monetary damages awarded to the Federal Government. Some states have passed False Claims Act equivalents, to deter and punish for fraud against state governments.
Qui tam is an abbreviation from the Latin phrase “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro sic ipso in hoc parte sequitur”, meaning “who as well for the king as for himself sues in this matter”. A qui tam action allows private citizens to file a lawsuit in the name of the United States government charging fraud by contractors and others who receive or use government funds.