False Claims Act Recoveries Topped $2 Billion in Fiscal 2022

The Department of Justice recently released statistics showing that the federal government recovered more than $2.2 billion in settlements and judgments under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) in fiscal year 2022 ending on Sept. 30. Lawsuits filed by whistleblowers in federal courts accounted for approximately $1.9 billion of the total amount of FCA recoveries in 2022. Additionally, healthcare fraud was the leading source of FCA settlements and judgments.

Whistleblowers received nearly a half-billion dollars of the total, the government reported.

"Protecting taxpayer dollars by preventing fraud and abuse is a critical priority for the Department of Justice," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton. "The large number of settlements and judgments this past year demonstrates that the False Claims Act remains one of the most important tools for ensuring that public funds are spent properly and advance the public interest."

Although the number of FCA settlements and judgments in 2022 was the second-highest amount since 1986, it was also considerably less than in the fiscal year 2021, where roughly $5.7 billion was recovered.

In its press release reporting the fiscal year 2022 statistics, the Justice Department highlighted the government's recent focus on fraud relating to COVID-related relief programs like PPP and its cybersecurity initiative.

A whistleblower case filed by Ross Feller Casey lawyers against Mallinckrodt ARD LLC, formerly known as Questcor Pharmaceuticals, was also highlighted in the government report.

A whistleblower, also known as a relator, can bring an FCA claim on the government's behalf under the FCA's qui tam provisions or by the government directly. A relator who files a lawsuit on the government's behalf under the FCA's qui tam provisions is entitled to an award based on the total amount recovered, typically 15 percent to 30 percent of the total recovery, if the lawsuit is successfully resolved.

In fiscal year 2022, the federal government paid whistleblowers more than $488 million for reporting fraud.

The whistleblower attorneys at Ross Feller Casey, a leading qui tam law firm, continue to pursue these critical cases with impressive results.

If you suspect corruption or fraud regarding government funds in your workplace, don't hesitate to contact our lawyers for a free consultation. Our lawyers understand the personal and professional risks you are taking to expose fraud and will fight to protect your rights through the entire whistleblower legal process.

Ross Feller Casey handles whistleblower actions on a contingency basis, meaning there will never be a cost to you until there is a financial recovery in your case.