Learn More About False Claims Act Law in Altoona, Pennsylvania

Altoona is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the principal city of the Altoona, PA MSA. The population was 47,176 at the 2006 census estimate, making it the ninth most populous city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster and Harrisburg. The Altoona MSA includes all of Blair County and had an estimated population of 125,527 in 2007, according to the U.S. Census. Having grown around the railroad industry, the city is currently working to recover from industrial decline and urban decentralization experienced in recent decades. The city is home to the Altoona Curve baseball team of the Double A Eastern League, which is the Double A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It also houses the 75+ year-old Altoona Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Teresa Cheung. Prominent landmarks include the Horseshoe Curve, the Railroaders Memorial Museum, the Mishler Theatre, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Jaffa Mosque. Altoona is also the home of the Sheetz headquarters. Sheetz is one of the largest convenience store and gas station chains in the country, with stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. Because of this, many Sheetz stores are located in and around Altoona.

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 Pennsylvania

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...