Summary: False claims lawyers can defend you against charges of defrauding the federal government by providing you with their expertise and the right advice and paperwork.
The False Claims Act intends to protect the federal government from being defrauded of its due money. It originated to tackle fraud in the defense industry and has evolved to include various other industries like healthcare, construction, finance, etc. The Act imposes heavy penalties that range between $11,665 to $23,331 per violation. Additionally, it also rewards whistle-blowers with up to 30% of the total amount recovered through the lawsuit. This incentive has led to a huge rise in the number of lawsuits under the Act. If you are entangled in such a lawsuit, a False Claims Act attorney is your best bet, and here is why.
To protect yourself from incriminating statements
It is human nature to be defensive when one is accused of crimes. And if the allegations warrant a minimum of $11,665 in fines, it increases the risk of a verbal outburst and the need to defend oneself. Most people forget their Miranda rights when they find themselves accused of serious crimes and make incriminating statements in the heat of the moment. If you find yourself in such a situation, hire a false claims lawyer immediately. With their experience in this field of law and their knowledge of the judicial system, they will be able to protect themselves from any incriminating statement you might have let slip.
To present all the required documents perfectly
Paperwork is the bloodline of any judicial process. Not only are documents required to be submitted in court in the prescribed manner, but they must also be submitted within the prescribed time. A person without experience in this field will not be aware of the prescribed rules related to documents in such proceedings, nor will they be able to gauge the importance of all the paperwork you provide them with. Only an experienced False Claims Act attorney will be able to ascertain what documents are relevant to your defense and what is not. Their understanding of proceedings under the False Claims Act enables them to prepare all the paperwork required perfectly.
To defend against charges under various laws
Depending upon the industry, defrauding the government attracts multiple statutes simultaneously. For instance, if you are a medical professional being accused of medicare fraud, you can be held liable under the False Claims Act, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, etc. Only a qualified and experienced professional can first identify the various laws under which you are being charged, and secondly, prepare appropriate defenses for each of these charges. The False Claims Act does not require the person being accused of knowing the crime to be prosecuted for the same. The burden of proving one’s innocence lies on the accused, and the only way you can do that is by seeking the help of false claims lawyers.
