New York False Claims Act – Qui Tam Whistleblower

In 2007, New York passed the False Claims Act (FCA) modeled after the federal False Claims Act. The New York False Claims Act establishes recourse for governments for acts of fraud and resulting loss and it also provides rewards and protections for whistleblowers who bring the fraudulent activity to light.

New York False Claims Act

The New York False Claims Act allows private individuals to bring a case on behalf of the state to prosecute cases of fraud on the government. The whistleblower, also known as the relator, can proceed with a “qui tam” lawsuit on behalf of the state and receive a portion of the recovery.

After filing a lawsuit, the government will investigate the claim and evidence. The whistleblower need not have all the evidence themselves; the investigation can uncover new evidence or witnesses. The lawsuit is filed under seal, and if the government chooses to intervene, it takes the case on with its own attorneys. The whistleblower and the whistleblower’s attorneys continue to assist the government with the lawsuit, and in most cases, receive an award after a settlement or judgement.

If the state of New York declines to proceed with a case, the whistleblower can proceed on his/her own with his/her own attorneys, continuing to represent the interest of the government and taxpayers. The government may choose to decline for reasons unrelated to the strength of the claim, such as limited capacity by government attorneys to prosecution the action.

New York False Claim Act Penalties

The New York False Claims Act allows for penalties of $6,000 to $12,000 per violation, attorney fees and costs, and up to three times the loss or fraud in damages. For example, if someone defrauded a New York state or local government of $200,000 through two violations, they could face a total penalty of up to $624,000.

Self-reporting of fraud can lower the triple damages penalty to a double damage penalty.

I have a New York False Claims Act Claim

If you believe you have knowledge of a wrongdoing affecting the state or local governments of New York, contact the experienced whistleblower qui tam lawyers of Schneider Wallace at 1-800-689-0024 or info@schneiderwallace.com.

New York False Claim Act Rewards

If the government intervenes in the lawsuit, the whistleblower may still be rewarded up to 20 percent of the amount recovered by the government, depending on the amount of contribution to the case.

If the government declines to proceed and the whistleblower wins a case or obtains a settlement without government intervention, the whistleblower can receive up to 30 percent of the recovery as an award. This additional reward is to recognize the extra work by the relator and their qui tam attorney to prosecute the fraud without the government’s assistance.

Schneider Wallace works on a contingency fee basis, so whistleblowers do not need to spend their own money to hire a qui tam lawyer and bring a qui tam lawsuit. Schneider Wallace only recovers fees and costs if they secure a whistleblower reward for a client.

New York False Claim Act Rules

Sections 187-194 of New York State Finance Law, Chapter 56, Article XIII, provide:

187. Short title This article shall be known and may be cited as the “New York false claims act”. 188. Definitions

As used in this article, the following terms shall mean:

  1. “Claim” means any request or demand, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money or property which is made to any employee, officer, or agent of the state or a local government, or to any contractor, grantee or other recipient, if the state or a local government provides any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded or will reimburse such contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded.
  2. “False claim” means any claim which is, either in whole or part, false or fraudulent.
  3. “Knowing and knowingly” means that with respect to a claim, or information relating to a claim, a person:

(a) has actual knowledge of such claim or information;

(b) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of such claim or information; or

(c) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of such claim or information.
Proof of specific intent to defraud is not required, provided, however that acts occurring by mistake or as a result of mere negligence are not covered by this article.

  1. “Local government” means any county, city, town, village, school district, board of cooperative educational services, local public benefit corporation or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state.
  2. “Original source” means a person who has direct and independent knowledge of the information on which allegations are based, and has voluntarily provided the information to the state or a local government before filing an action under this article which is based on the information.
  3. “Person” means any natural person, partnership, corporation, association or any other legal entity or individual, other than the state or a local government.
  4. “State” means the state of New York and any state department, board, bureau, division, commission, committee, public benefit corporation, public authority, council, office or other governmental entity performing a governmental or proprietary function for the state.

189. Liability for Certain Acts
  1. Subject to the provisions of subdivision two of this section, any person who:

(a) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, to any employee, officer or agent of the state or a local government, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;

(b) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement to get a false or fraudulent claim paid or approved by the state or a local government;

(c) conspires to defraud the state or a local government by getting a false or fraudulent claim allowed or paid;

(d) has possession, custody, or control of property or money used, or to be used, by the state or a local government and, intending to defraud the state or a local government or willfully to conceal the property or money, delivers, or causes to be delivered, less property or money than the amount for which the person receives a certificate or receipt;

(e) is authorized to make or deliver a document certifying receipt of property used, or to be used, by the state or a local government and, intending to defraud the state or a local government, makes or delivers the receipt without completely knowing that the information on the receipt is true;

(f) knowingly buys, or receives as a pledge of an obligation or debt, public property from an officer or employee of the state or a local government knowing that the officer or employee lawfully may not sell or pledge the property; or

(g) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement to conceal, avoid, or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or a local government; shall be liable: (i) to the state for a civil penalty of not less than six thousand dollars and not more than twelve thousand dollars, plus three times the amount of damages which the state sustains because of the act of that person; and (ii) to any local government for three times the amount of damages sustained by such local government because of the act of that person.

  1. The court may assess not more than two times the amount of damages sustained because of the act of the person described in subdivision one of this section, if the court finds that:

(a) the person committing the violation of this section had furnished all information known to such person about the violation, to those officials responsible for investigating false claims violations on behalf of the state and any local government that sustained damages, within thirty days after the date on which such person first obtained the information;

(b) such person fully cooperated with any government investigation of such violation; and

(c) at the time such person furnished information about the violation, no criminal prosecution, civil action, or administrative action had commenced with respect to such violation, and the person did not have actual knowledge of the existence of an investigation into such violation.

  1. A person who violates this section shall also be liable for the costs, including attorneys’ fees, of a civil action brought to recover any such penalty or damages.
  2. This section shall not apply to claims, records, or statements made under the tax law.
190. Civil actions for false claims
  1. Civil enforcement actions. The attorney general shall have the authority to investigate violations under section one hundred eighty-nine of this article. If the attorney general believes that a person has violated or is violating such section, then the attorney general may bring a civil action on behalf of the people of the state of New York or on behalf of a local government against such person. A local government also shall have the authority to investigate violations that may have resulted in damages to such local government under section one hundred eighty-nine of this article, and may bring a civil action on its own behalf to recover damages sustained by such local government as a result of such violations. No action may be filed pursuant to this subdivision against the federal government, the state or a local government, or any officer or employee thereof acting in his or her official capacity. The attorney general shall consult with the office of medicaid inspector general prior to filing any action related to the medicaid program.
  2. Qui tam civil actions.

(a) Any person may bring a qui tam civil action for a violation of section one hundred eighty-nine of this article on behalf of the people of the state of New York or a local government. No action may be filed pursuant to this subdivision against the federal government, the state or a local government, or any officer or employee thereof acting in his or her official capacity.

(b) A copy of the complaint and written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information the person possesses shall be served on the state pursuant to subdivision one of section three hundred seven of the civil practice law and rules. The complaint shall be filed in supreme court in camera, shall remain under seal for at least sixty days, and shall not be served on the defendant until the court so orders. If the allegations in the complaint allege a violation of section one hundred eighty-nine of this article involving damages to a local government, then the attorney general may at any time provide a copy of such complaint and written disclosure to the attorney for such local government; provided, however, that if the allegations in the complaint involve damages only to a city with a population of one million or more, or only to the state and such a city, then the attorney general shall provide such complaint and written disclosure to the corporation counsel of such city within thirty days. The state may elect to supersede or intervene and proceed with the action, or to authorize a local government that may have sustained damages to supersede or intervene, within sixty days after it receives both the complaint and the material evidence and information; provided, however, that if the allegations in the complaint involve damages only to a city with a population of one million or more, then the attorney general may not supersede or intervene in such action without the consent of the corporation counsel of such city. The attorney general shall consult with the office of the medicaid inspector general prior to superseding or intervening in any action related to the medicaid program. The attorney general may, for good cause shown, move the court for extensions of the time during which the complaint remains under seal under this subdivision. Any such motions may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in camera.

(c) Prior to the expiration of the sixty day period or any extensions obtained under paragraph (b) of this subdivision, the attorney general shall notify the court that he or she:

(i) intends to file a complaint against the defendant on behalf of the people of the state of New York or a local government, and thereby be substituted as the plaintiff in the action and convert the action in all respects from a qui tam civil action brought by a private person into a civil enforcement action by the attorney general under subdivision one of this section;

(ii) intends to intervene in such action, as of right, so as to aid and assist the plaintiff in the action; or

(iii) if the action involves damages sustained by a local government, intends to grant the local government permission to: (A) file and serve a complaint against the defendant, and thereby be substituted as the plaintiff in the action and convert the action in all respects from a qui tam civil action brought by a private person into a civil enforcement action by the local government under subdivision one of this section; or (B) intervene in such action, as of right, so as to aid and assist the plaintiff in the action. The attorney general shall provide the local government with a copy of any such notification at the same time the court is notified.

(d) If the state notifies the court that it intends to file a complaint against the defendant and thereby be substituted as the plaintiff in the action, or to permit a local government to do so, such complaint must be filed within thirty days after the notification to the court.

(e) If the state notifies the court that it intends to intervene in the action, or to permit a local government to do so, then such motion for intervention shall be filed within thirty days after the notification to the court.

(f) If the state declines to participate in the action or to authorize participation by a local government, the qui tam action may proceed subject to judicial review under this section, the civil practice law and rules, and other applicable law.

  1. Time to answer. If the state decides to participate in a qui tam action or to authorize the participation of a local government, the court shall order that the qui tam complaint be unsealed and served at the time of the filing of the complaint or intervention motion by the state or local government. After the complaint is unsealed, or if a complaint is filed by the state or a local government pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the defendant shall be served with the complaint and summons pursuant to article three of the civil practice law and rules. A copy of any complaint which alleges that damages were sustained by a local government shall also be served on such local government. The defendant shall be required to respond to the summons and complaint within the time allotted under rule three hundred twenty of the civil practice law and rules.
  2. Related actions. When a person brings a qui tam action under this section, no person other than the attorney general, or a local government attorney acting pursuant to subdivision one of this section or paragraph (b) of subdivision two of this section, may intervene or bring a related civil action based upon the facts underlying the pending action, unless such other person has first obtained the permission of the attorney general to intervene or to bring such related action; provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to deny persons the right, upon leave of court, to file briefs amicus curiae.
  3. Rights of the parties of qui tam actions.

(a) If the attorney general elects to convert the qui tam civil action into an attorney general enforcement action, then the state shall have the primary responsibility for prosecuting the action. If the attorney general elects to intervene in the qui tam civil action then the state and the person who commenced the action, and any local government which sustained damages and intervenes in the action, shall share primary responsibility for prosecuting the action. If the attorney general elects to permit a local government to convert the action into a civil enforcement action, then the local government shall have primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting the action. If the action involves damages to a local government but not the state, and the local government intervenes in the qui tam civil action, then the local government and the person who commenced the action shall share primary responsibility for prosecuting the action. Under no circumstances shall the state or a local government be bound by an act of the person bringing the original action. Such person shall have the right to continue as a party to the action, subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision. Under no circumstances shall the state be bound by the act of a local government that intervenes in an action involving damages to the state. If neither the attorney general nor a local government intervenes in the qui tam action then the qui tam plaintiff shall have the responsibility for prosecuting the action, subject to the attorney general’s right to intervene at a later date upon a showing of good cause.

(b)(i) The state may move to dismiss the action notwithstanding the objections of the person initiating the action if the person has been served with the motion to dismiss and the court has provided the person with an opportunity to be heard on the motion. If the action involves damages to both the state and a local government, then the state shall consult with such local government before moving to dismiss the action. If the action involves damages sustained by a local government but not the state, then the local government may move to dismiss the action notwithstanding the objections of the person initiating the action if the person has been served with the motion to dismiss and the court has provided the person with an opportunity to be heard on the motion.
(ii) The state or a local government may settle the action with the defendant notwithstanding the objections of the person initiating the action if the court determines, after an opportunity to be heard, that the proposed settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable with respect to all parties under all the circumstances. Upon a showing of good cause, such opportunity to be heard may be held in camera.
(iii) Upon a showing by the attorney general or a local government that the original plaintiff’s unrestricted participation during the course of the litigation would interfere with or unduly delay the prosecution of the case, or would be repetitious or irrelevant, or upon a showing by the defendant that the original qui tam plaintiff’s unrestricted participation during the course of the litigation would be for purposes of harassment or would cause the defendant undue burden, the court may, in its discretion, impose limitations on the original plaintiff’s participation in the case, such as:

(A) limiting the number of witnesses the person may call;

(B) limiting the length of the testimony of such witnesses;

(C) limiting the person’s cross-examination of witnesses; or

(D) otherwise limiting the participation by the person in the litigation.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whether or not the attorney general or a local government elects to supersede or intervene in a qui tam civil action, the attorney general and such local government may elect to pursue any remedy available with respect to the criminal or civil prosecution of the presentation of false claims, including any administrative proceeding to determine a civil money penalty or to refer the matter to the office of the medicaid inspector general for medicaid related matters. If any such alternate civil remedy is pursued in another proceeding, the person initiating the action shall have the same rights in such proceeding as such person would have had if the action had continued under this section.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whether or not the attorney general elects to supersede or intervene in a qui tam civil action, or to permit a local government to supersede or intervene in the qui tam civil action, upon a showing by the state or local government that certain actions of discovery by the person initiating the action would interfere with the state’s or a local government’s investigation or prosecution of a criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts, the court may stay such discovery for a period of not more than sixty days. Such a showing shall be conducted in camera. The court may extend the period of such stay upon a further showing in camera that the state or a local government has pursued the criminal or civil investigation or proceedings with reasonable diligence and any proposed discovery in the civil action will interfere with the ongoing criminal or civil investigation or proceedings.

  1. Awards to qui tam plaintiff. (a) If the attorney general elects to convert the qui tam civil action into an attorney general enforcement action, or to permit a local government to convert the action into a civil enforcement action by such local government, or if the attorney general or a local government elects to intervene in the qui tam civil action, then the person or persons who initiated the qui tam civil action collectively shall be entitled to receive between fifteen and twenty-five percent of the proceeds recovered in the action or in settlement of the action. The court shall determine the percentage of the proceeds to which a person commencing a qui tam civil action is entitled, by considering the extent to which the plaintiff substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action. Where the court finds that the action was based primarily on disclosures of specific information (other than information provided by the person bringing the action) relating to allegations or transactions in a criminal, civil or administrative hearing, in a legislative or administrative report, hearing, audit or investigation, or from the news media, the court may award such sums as it considers appropriate, but in no case more than ten percent of the proceeds, taking into account the significance of the information and the role of the person or persons bringing the action in advancing the case to litigation.

(b) If the attorney general or a local government does not elect to intervene or convert the action, and the action is successful, then the person or persons who initiated the qui tam action which obtains proceeds shall be entitled to receive between twenty-five and thirty percent of the proceeds recovered in the action or settlement of the action. The court shall determine the percentage of the proceeds to which a person commencing a qui tam civil action is entitled, by considering the extent to which the plaintiff substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action.

(c) With the exception of a court award of costs, expenses or attorneys’ fees, any payment to a person pursuant to this paragraph shall be made from the proceeds.

  1. Costs, expenses, disbursements and attorneys’ fees. In any action brought pursuant to this article, the court may award the attorney general, on behalf of the people of the state of New York, and any local government that participates as a party in the action, and any person who is a qui tam plaintiff, an amount for reasonable expenses which the court finds to have been necessarily incurred, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees, plus costs pursuant to article eighty-one of the civil practice law and rules. All such expenses, fees and costs shall be awarded directly against the defendant and shall not be charged from the proceeds, but shall only be awarded if the state or a local government or the qui tam civil action plaintiff prevails in the action.
  2. Exclusion from recovery. If the court finds that the qui tam civil action was brought by a person who planned or initiated the violation of section one hundred eighty-nine of this article upon which the action was brought, then the court may, to the extent the court considers appropriate, reduce the share of the proceeds of the action which the person would otherwise be entitled to receive under subdivision six of this section, taking into account the role of such person in advancing the case to litigation and any relevant circumstances pertaining to the violation. If the person bringing the qui tam civil action is convicted of criminal conduct arising from his or her role in the violation of section one hundred eighty-nine of this article, that person shall be dismissed from the qui tam civil action and shall not receive any share of the proceeds of the action. Such dismissal shall not prejudice the right of the attorney general to supersede or intervene in such action and to civilly prosecute the same on behalf of the state or a local government.
  3. Certain actions barred. No court shall have jurisdiction over a qui tam civil action brought pursuant to subdivision two of this section:

(a) based on allegations or transactions which are the subject of a pending civil action or an administrative action in which the state or a local government is already a party;

(b) derived from public disclosure of allegations or transactions in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing, in a legislative or administrative report, hearing, audit or investigation, or from the news media, unless the person who initiated the action is an original source of the information;

(c) if the agency has reached a binding settlement or other agreement with the person who submitted such false claims resolving the matter and such agreement has been approved in writing by the attorney general, or by the local government attorney if the matter involves allegations of false claims submitted to a local government; or

(d) against a member of the legislature, a member of the judiciary, or a senior executive branch official if the action is based on evidence or information known to the state when the action was brought.

  1. Liability. Neither the state nor any local government shall be liable for any expenses which any person incurs in bringing a qui tam civil action under this article.
191. Remedies of employees
  1. Any employee of any private or public employer who is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because of lawful acts done by the employee on behalf of the employer or others in furtherance of an action brought under this article, including the investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action filed or to be filed under this section, shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole. Such relief shall include but not be limited to:

(a) an injunction to restrain continued discrimination;

(b) reinstatement to the position such employee would have had but for the discrimination or to an equivalent position;

(c) reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights;

(d) payment of two times back pay, plus interest; and

(e) compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

    An employee described in subdivision one of this section may bring an action in the appropriate supreme court for the relief provided in this section.

192. Limitation of actions, burden of proof
  1. A civil action under this article shall be commenced no later than:

(a) six years after the date on which the violation of section one hundred eighty-nine of this article is committed; or

(b) three years after the date when facts material to the right of action are known or reasonably should have been known by the official of the state or local government charged with responsibility to act in the circumstances, but in no event more than ten years after the date on which the violation is committed, whichever occurs last. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purposes of this article, an action under this article is commenced by the filing of the complaint in the supreme court.

    In any action brought under this article, the state, a local government that participates as a party in the action, or the person bringing the qui tam civil action, shall be required to prove all essential elements of the cause of action, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.

New York False Claims Act Statute of Limitations

The New York FCA allows for claims going back 10 years. Any claim made for actions taken more than 10 years in the past would be past the statute of limitations, and unable to proceed.

A company or person may commit multiple violations. If a company is incorrectly billing the government for over a decade, the violations that have occurred within the last 10 years can still be subject to a claim. For information about statute of limitations and claims, speak with an experienced New York qui tam attorney.

New York False Claim Lawyer

Schneider Wallace represents New York whistleblowers. Schedule a consult with our false claim lawyers for a free and confidential consultation. Contact us at 1-800-689-0024 or info@schneiderwallace.com.

New York False Claims Act – Qui Tam Whistleblower

Practice Areas