Learn More About False Claims Act Law in Ridgecrest, California

Ridgecrest, formerly known as Crumville, was incorporated as a city in 1963. It is located in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, California adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS, or China Lake). Ridgecrest is the only incorporated city along US 395 in Kern County. The population was 24,927 at the 2000 census and reached 30,151 in 2008. The city of Ridgecrest is a largely "company" oriented community big enough to provide plenty of fine schools, shopping and health care. Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra Nevada on the west, the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the east, and the El Paso Mountains on the south. It is approximately 80 miles (130 km) from the Lancaster/Palmdale area and approximately 115 miles (185 km) from both Bakersfield and San Bernardino, the three nearest major urban centers. Air travel in and out of the city is provided through the Inyokern Airport. Ridgecrest is within two hours of the highest and the lowest points in the continental U.S.

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...