Learn More About False Claims Act Law in Hopland, California

Hopland (formerly, Sanel) is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located on the west bank of the Russian River 13 miles (21 km) south-southeast of Ukiah, at an elevation of 502 feet (153 m). Hopland is a small town of less than 800 people located at the start of the Redwoods of Northern California. It is about two hours drive along U.S. Route 101 north of San Francisco, and a 30-minute drive along State Route 175 to California's largest natural lake Clear Lake. It is a rustic farming community situated amongst oak covered coastal foothills. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 °F. The Hopland Band of Pomo Indians operates the Hopland Sho-Ka-Wah Casino and Bingo on Nokomis Road, which includes a 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m) casino. The Pomo originally lived off the natural resources of the land in Sanel Valley with deer, fish, acorns and berries. In 1996 they opened the casino and through it have funded health, educational and social benefits. Notable establishments in Hopland include the Solar Living Institute (www. solarliving. org), which has regular workshops and is a leader in the eco-education circuit, the Mendocino Brewing Company, which started in 1983 as the Hopland Brewing Company, and Fetzer Vineyards, a major producer of both red and white wines in North America, including Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Merlot. Approximately 5 mi (8 km) east of Hopland is the University of California's Hopland Research and Extension Center (formerly called the "Hopland Field Station"), a 5,300-acre (21.4 km) research and education facility that UC has operated since 1951.

What is false claims act law?

The False Claims Act ("FCA") allows a private individual with knowledge of past or present fraud on the federal government to sue on behalf of the government to recover compensatory damages, civil penalties, and triple damages. The FCA has become an important tool for uncovering fraud and abuse of government programs. The FCA compensates the private whistleblower, known as the relator, if his or her efforts are successful in helping the government recover fraudulently obtained government funds.

The FCA contains an ancient legal device called the "qui tam" provision which is shorthand for the Latin phrase:

qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur
he who brings a case on behalf of our lord the King, as well as for himself

The False Claims Act allows a private individual with knowledge of past or present fraud on the federal government to sue on the government’s behalf to recover compensatory damages, civil penalties, and triple damages.

Answers to false claims act law issues in California

How do I know if I have a False Claims Act case?

A False Claims Act violation occurs when a person or entity deceives the Federal Government to improperly obtain...

How Does a Qui Tam Case Work Procedurally?

Assuming you have a case, after assessing the fraud and conceptualizing it in terms the government can relate to,...

What do I do if I have Uncovered Fraud?

If you believe you have discovered fraud at your workplace, you should try to assess the magnitude of the fraud and...

What if my Claims Have Already Been Publicly Disclosed?

If the qui tam action is “based upon” the public disclosure it may be not be allowed to be brought. Public...

Should I Tell my Employer or Anyone Else About the Fraud?

Before you raise concerns about the alleged fraud with the employer, it is important to talk with your qui tam...

What is the Likelihood of Winning my Qui Tam Case?
The likelihood of winning your qui tam case depends on a number of factors that are different for every case. The...
What are Possible Consequences of Bringing a Qui Tam Action?

Filing a qui tam suit can put the relator at significant personal and professional discomfort. There are several...

What can I do about a patent marking that is improperly on a product?

The law provides that whoever falsely marks a product with either a patent number, the words "patent" or "patent...

What can be done to report tax fraud to the IRS?

The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 made significant changes to the Informants Reward Program under the False...

What can be done about health care fraud?

Health care fraud is a type of white-collar crime that involves the filing of dishonest health care claims in order...