Justice Department Announces 2012 Recoveries in Whistleblower Suits
The U.S. Justice Department has announced that increased incentives for whistleblowers have led to an unprecedented number of investigations and greater recoveries in 2012.
Of the $4.9 billion in fiscal year 2012 recoveries, a record $3.3 billion was recovered in whistleblower suits.
In fiscal year 2012 alone, relators filed 647 qui tam suits.
Of the nearly 8,500 qui tam suits filed since the 1986 amendments, nearly 2,200 were filed since January 2009.
Looking at qui tam recoveries for the same periods, the department tallied $24.2 billion since 1986, with nearly $10.5 billion of that amount recovered from January 2009 through fiscal year 2012.
Since 1986, whistleblowers have been awarded nearly $4 billion, with $439 million in awards in fiscal year 2012.
In making the announcement, Acting Associate Attorney General West and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart Delery said:
“The whistleblowers who bring wrongdoing to the government’s attention are instrumental in preserving the integrity of government programs and protecting taxpayers from the costs of fraud. We are extremely grateful for the sacrifices they make to do the right thing.”
Delery also expressed their deep appreciation for the dedicated public servants who contributed to the investigation and prosecution of these cases. These individuals include attorneys, investigators, auditors and other agency personnel throughout the Civil Division, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, HHS, Department of Defense and the many other federal and state agencies that contributed to the department’s record recoveries this past year.
“The department’s record recoveries this past year are a product of the tremendous skill and dedication of the people who worked on these cases and investigations.”