Federal False Claims Act claims are among the most complex legal claims. They stretch across multiple substantive areas of the law. They also have more procedural steps to take than a standard legal claim. All attorneys are technically qualified to work in every area of the law. However, the False Claims Act lawyer you choose can make or break your claim. There are a few things you may want to consider looking for in a False Claims Act lawyer.
Experience in a Specific Field
The False Claims Act covers many different types of fraud. This includes Medicare and Medicaid, disaster relief funds, defense contracting, and more. An attorney will need to be able to show that specific laws relevant to the industry were violated. Therefore, they will need to be familiar enough with the industry to know what evidence to look for and how to get it. An attorney with extensive experience in financial services industry may not know how to analyze medical billing records and build a strong Medicare fraud case.
Experience Working With the Government
All qui tam litigation under the False Claims Act must be reviewed by the Department of Justice. In many cases, the DOJ will take over the litigation. As a matter of legal procedure, all information that a whistleblower has must be turned over to the Government. However, it helps to ensure that the Government can pursue the case successfully. Hence, it can be helpful to have an attorney who knows how to present the potentially thousands of pages of documents in a way that highlights the most important information and makes the job of an overworked Government attorney easier.
Ability to Back Litigation
Lawsuits can easily have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in filing fees. There are also costs of obtaining and reproducing costs, travel expenses for witnesses, and deposition fees. Often, a large firm may be able to cover these fees pending a court order that the defendant reimburse them. However, a small firm may not have the financial resources to proceed. Additionally, a small firm attorney may not be able to provide enough attention to the case if they need to continue to take other cases to pay their daily bills.
A Track Record of Success
Past results are never a guaranteed of future success. However, they are one possible indicator that an attorney has the knowledge and experience to handle a similar claim. An attorney with a lengthy track record has already likely made and learned from the mistakes that a less experienced attorney might make that could damage or delay a case.
To speak with an experienced False Claims Act lawyer, contact the Bothwell Law Group today.
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