Source: https://www.pjofca.com/qui-tam-false-claims-act/federal-and-state-false-claims-acts/district-of-columbia-false-claims-act/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 15:15:22+00:00

Document:
(1) “Claim” means any request or demand for money, property, or services made to any employee, officer, or agent of the District, or to any contractor, grantee, or other recipient, whether under contract or not, if any portion of the money, property, or services requested or demanded issued from, or was provided by, the District, or if the District will reimburse such contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded.
(2) “Fixed obligation” means an amount due the District by contract or by law. The term “fixed obligation” does not include a fine to be imposed by law until the fine has been assessed.
(B) Proof of specific intent to defraud is not required for an act to be knowing.
(4) “Person” includes any natural person, corporation, firm, association, organization, partnership, business, or trust.
(5) “Proceeds” means civil penalties as well as double or treble damages as provided in § 2-308.14, and criminal fines pursuant to § 2-308.21.
HISTORY: 1981 Ed., § 1-1188.13; D.C. Law 6-85, § 813, as added May 8, 1998, D.C. Law 12- 104, § 2(g); Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 10(a), 46 DCR 2118.
Columbia Code that refer or relate to taxation.
104, § 2(g), 45 DCR 1687.
(a) The Attorney General for the District of Columbia shall investigate, with such assistance from other District agencies as may be required, violations pursuant to § 2-308.14 involving District funds. If the Attorney General for the District of Columbia finds that a person has violated or is violating the provisions of § 2-308.14, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia may bring a civil action against that person in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
(b) (1) A person may bring a civil action for a violation of § 2-308.14 for the person and either for the District or in the name of the District. The person bringing the action shall be referred to as the qui tam plaintiff. Once filed, the action brought by the qui tam plaintiff may be dismissed only with the written consent of the court, taking into account the best interest of the parties involved and the public disclosure purposes of this subpart. The Attorney General for the District of Columbia shall be served with the notice of proposed dismissal and shall have the opportunity to be heard.
(6) When a qui tam plaintiff brings an action pursuant to this subsection, no other person may bring an action pursuant to this section based on the facts underlying the pending action.
(c) (1) No person may bring an action pursuant to subsection (b) of this section against a member of the Council of the District of Columbia (“Council”), a member of the District judiciary, or an elected official in the executive branch of the District, if the action is based on any official act occurring during his or her term of office.
(2) (A) No person may bring an action pursuant to subsection (b) of this section based upon allegations or transactions in a criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding, investigation, or report, or audit conducted by or at the request of the Council, the Auditor, the Inspector General, or other District or federal agency; or upon allegations or transactions disclosed by the news media, unless the person bringing the action is an original source of the information.
(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the term “original source” means an individual who has direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are based, who voluntarily provided the information to the District before filing an action based on that information, and whose information provided the basis or catalyst for the investigation, report, hearing, audit, or media disclosure which led to the public disclosure as described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(3) No person may bring an action pursuant to subsection (b) of this section based upon information learned by the person in the course of an internal investigation in preparation for, or in conjunction with, a voluntary disclosure to the District or federal government.
(4) No present or former employee of the District, or any person who is acting on behalf of or relying on information provided by that employee, may bring an action pursuant to subsection (b) of this section if the employee discovered or obtained the information on which the action is based during the course of his or her employment, unless that employee first in good faith exhausted internal procedures for reporting and seeking recovery of such falsely claimed sums through official channels, including notice to the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, and unless the District failed to act on the information provided within a reasonable time.
(5) No member or employee of the Council of the District of Columbia, the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of the Auditor, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, or the Metropolitan Police Department may bring an action pursuant to subsection (b) of this section based upon information discovered during the term of his or her employment.
(6) No person may bring an action pursuant to this section if the person has been convicted of a criminal offense in connection with any false claim that is the subject of the action.
(7) No person may sell or otherwise transfer any cause of action, or interest in any present or future benefit provided, pursuant to this section.
(d) (1) If the District proceeds with the action, it shall have the primary responsibility for prosecuting the action. The qui tam plaintiff shall have the right to continue as a party to the action and to participate in the action to the extent that the qui tam plaintiff is able to demonstrate to the court that such participation would neither be duplicative of nor interfere with the prosecution of the action by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia; provided, that the qui tam action was proper pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
(2) (A) The District may dismiss the action for good cause shown.
(B) The District may settle the action with the defendant, notwithstanding the objections of the qui tam plaintiff, if the court determines, after a hearing providing the qui tam plaintiff an opportunity to be heard, that the proposed settlement fairly, adequately, and reasonably protects the interests of the District under all of the circumstances.
(e) (1) If the District elects not to proceed and the qui tam action was proper pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the qui tam plaintiff shall have the same right to conduct the action as the Attorney General for the District of Columbia would have had if he or she had chosen to proceed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. If the District so requests, the District shall be served with copies of all pleadings filed in the action.
(2) Upon timely application, the court shall permit the District to intervene in an action with which it had initially declined to proceed. In the event that the District is permitted to intervene, it shall have the primary responsibility for prosecuting the action as provided in subsection (d)(1) of this section.
(f) (1) If the District proceeds with an action brought by a qui tam plaintiff pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and the qui tam action was proper pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the qui tam plaintiff, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, shall receive at least 10%, but not more than 25%, of the proceeds of the judgment or settlement of the claim, taking into account the significance of the information, the role of the qui tam plaintiff in advancing the litigation, the qui tam plaintiff’s attempts to avoid or resist such activity, and all other circumstances surrounding the activity, except, that if the qui tam plaintiff was substantially involved in the fraudulent activity on which the action is based, the court may direct that the plaintiff receive less than 10%.
(2) If the District does not proceed with the action, the court may award the qui tam plaintiff those sums from the proceeds it considers appropriate, which shall be at least 25% but not more than 40%, taking into account the significance of the information, the role of the qui tam plaintiff in advancing the case to litigation, and the scope of, and response to, the employee’s attempts to report and gain recovery of such falsely claimed funds through official channels; provided, that if the qui tam plaintiff was substantially involved in the fraudulent activity on which the action is based, the court may award the qui tam plaintiff less than 25%.
(4) If the District or the qui tam plaintiff prevails in or settles any action pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the qui tam plaintiff shall receive an amount for reasonable expenses which the court finds to have been necessarily incurred, plus reasonable costs and attorney’s fees. All expenses, costs, and fees shall be awarded against the defendant and under no circumstances shall they be the responsibility of the District.
(g) In any action brought pursuant to this section, the court may stay discovery if the Attorney General for the District of Columbia or the United States Attorney’s Office shows that discovery would interfere with an investigation or a prosecution of a criminal matter arising out of the same facts, regardless of whether the Attorney General for the District of Columbia or the United States Attorney’s Office 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.
HISTORY: 1981 Ed., § 1-1188.15; D.C. Law 6-85, § 815, as added May 8, 1998, D.C. Law 12-104, § 2(g), 45 DCR 1687; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 10(b), 46 DCR 2118; Mar. 5, 2010, D.C. Law 18-117, § 4, 57 DCR 896; Sept. 14, 2011, D.C. Law 19-21, § 9004(a), 58 DCR 6226.
(a) A civil action brought pursuant to § 2-308.15 may not be filed more than 6 years after the date on which the violation of § 2-308.14 is committed or more than 3 years after the date when facts material to the right of action are known or reasonably should have been known by an official of the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia, but in no event more than 9 years after the date on which the violation is committed, whichever occurs last.
(b) A civil action brought pursuant to § 2-308.15 may not be brought for activity prior to April 12, 1997.
(c) In any action brought pursuant to § 2-308.15, the District or the qui tam plaintiff shall be required to prove all essential elements of the cause of action, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.
HISTORY: 1981 Ed., § 1-1188.17; D.C. Law 6-85, § 817, as added May 8, 1998, D.C. Law 12- 104, § 2(g), 45 DCR 1687; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 10(d), 46 DCR 2118.
HISTORY: 1981 Ed., § 1-1188.18; D.C. Law 6-85, § 818, as added May 8, 1998, D.C. Law 12- 104, § 2(g), 45 DCR 1687.
(2) The Attorney General for the District of Columbia may delegate to the Principal Deputy Attorney General the authority, in his or her absence, to issue civil investigative demands pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. The Attorney General may not issue a civil investigative demand in order to conduct, or assist in the conducting of, a criminal investigation.
(b) (1) Each civil investigative demand issued pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section shall state the nature of the conduct constituting the alleged violation of a false claims law which is under investigation, and the applicable provision of law alleged to have been violated.
(6) The Attorney General for the District of Columbia shall not authorize, pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section, issuance of more than one civil investigative demand for oral testimony by the same person unless the person requests otherwise or unless the Attorney General, after investigation, notifies that person in writing that an additional demand for oral testimony is necessary.
(d) (1) Any civil investigative demand issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may be served by a false claims law investigator or his or her agent, or by a United States marshal or a deputy marshal, at any place within the territorial jurisdiction of any court of the United States; provided, that the Superior Court of the District of Columbia could exercise jurisdiction over the recipient of the demand consistent with the due process clause of the Constitution of the United States.
(i) (1) The examination of any person, pursuant to a civil investigative demand for oral testimony, shall be conducted before an officer authorized to administer oaths and affirmations by the laws of the United States or of the place where the examination is held. The officer before whom the testimony is taken shall put the witness under oath or affirmation and shall, personally or by someone acting under the direction of the officer and in the officer’s presence, record the testimony of the witness. The testimony shall be taken by any means authorized by, and in a manner consistent with, the Superior Court Civil Rules, and shall be transcribed.
(j) (1) The Attorney General for the District of Columbia shall designate a false claims law investigator to serve as custodian of documentary material, answers to interrogatories, and transcripts of oral testimony received pursuant to this section, and shall designate such additional false claims law investigators as the Attorney General determines from time to time to be necessary to serve as deputies to the custodian.
(2) (A) A false claims law investigator who receives any documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony pursuant to this section shall transmit them to the custodian. The custodian shall take physical possession of such material, answers, or transcripts and shall be responsible for the use made of them and for the return of documentary material pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(B) The custodian may cause the preparation of such copies of such documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony as may be required for official use by any false claims law investigator, or any other officer or employee of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia who is authorized for such use by the Attorney General. Such material, answers, and transcripts may be used by any authorized false claims law investigator or other officer or employee in connection with the taking of oral testimony pursuant to this section.
(C) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony, or copies thereof, while in the possession of the custodian, shall be available for examination by any individual other than a false claims law investigator or officer or employee of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia authorized pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph. The prohibition in the preceding sentence on the availability of material, answers, or transcripts shall not apply if consent is given by the person who produced such material, answers, or transcripts. Nothing in this subparagraph is intended to prevent disclosure to the District of Columbia Council, including any committee of the Council, to the United States Attorney’s Office, or to any other agency of the United States for use by such agency in furtherance of its statutory responsibilities. Disclosure of information to any agency other than the Council or the United States Attorney’s Office shall be allowed only upon application, made by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, showing substantial need for the use of the information by such agency in furtherance of its statutory responsibilities and after giving the individuals who provided the information an opportunity to be heard on the release of the information.
(3) Whenever any attorney of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia is conducting any official investigation or proceeding, the custodian of any documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony received pursuant to this section may deliver to such attorney such material, answers, or transcripts for official use in connection with any such investigation or proceeding as such attorney determines to be required. Upon the completion of any such investigation or proceeding, such attorney shall return to the custodian any such material, answers, or transcripts so delivered that have not passed into the control of any court or agency through introduction into the record of any case or proceeding.
(4) If any documentary material has been produced by any person in the course of any false claims law investigation pursuant to a civil investigative demand, and any case or proceeding before a court arising out of such investigation, or any proceeding before any District government agency involving such material, has been completed, or no case or proceeding in which such material may be used has been commenced within a reasonable time after completion of the examination and analysis of all documentary material and other information assembled in the course of such investigation, the custodian shall, upon written request of the person who produced such material, return to such person any such material (other than copies furnished to the false claims law investigator pursuant to subsection (g)(2) of this section or made for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection), which has not passed into the control of any court or agency through introduction into the record of such case or proceeding.
(k) (1) Whenever any person fails to comply with any civil investigative demand, or whenever satisfactory copying or reproduction of any material requested in such demand cannot be done and such person refuses to surrender such material, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia may file in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and serve upon such person a petition for an order of such court for the enforcement of the civil investigative demand.
(1) “Custodian” means the custodian, or any deputy custodian, designated by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia pursuant to subsection (j)(1) of this section.
(3) “False claims law” means §§ 2-301.03 and 2-308.13 through 2-308.21.
(6) “Person” means any natural person, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity, including any state or political subdivision of a state.
HISTORY: 1981 Ed., § 1-1188.19; D.C. Law 6-85, § 819, as added May 8, 1998, D.C. Law 12-104, § 2(g), 45 DCR 1687; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 10(e), 46 DCR 2118; Apr. 12, 2000, D.C. Law 13-91, § 122, 47 DCR 520.
(a) There is hereby established an Antifraud Fund (“Fund”) to be operated as a proprietary fund with assets not to exceed $ 2,000,000 at any time. The Fund shall consist of criminal fines, civil penalties, and damages collected in cases brought pursuant to this chapter, other than funds awarded to a cooperator or for restitution to a particular agency in the amount of the actual loss to that agency. Such funds (with the exception of amounts for an award to a cooperator or restitution to a program) shall be deposited in the Fund upon receipt. Monies in the Fund shall not revert to the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of any fiscal year, but shall remain available for the purposes set forth in this section, subject to authorization and appropriation by Congress. Any balance in excess of that allowed the Fund by this section shall be deposited in the General Fund of the District of Columbia.
(b) Amounts in the Fund shall be available for use by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia to carry out the enforcement of this chapter, including all costs reasonably related to prosecuting cases and conducting investigations pursuant to this chapter.
(d) It is intended that disbursements made from the Fund to the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia or other appropriate agency be used to supplement and not supplant the Attorney General’s appropriated operating budget.
HISTORY: 1981 Ed., § 1-1188.20; D.C. Law 6-85, § 820, as added May 8, 1998, D.C. Law 12-104, § 2(g), 45 DCR 1687; Sept. 14, 2011, D.C. Law 19-21, § 1062, 58 DCR 6226.
Whoever makes or presents to any officer or employee of the District of Columbia government, or to any department or agency thereof, any claim upon or against the District of Columbia, or any department or agency thereof, knowing such claim to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent, shall be imprisoned not more than one year and assessed a fine of not more than $ 100,000 for each violation of this chapter. The Attorney General shall prosecute violations of this section.
HISTORY: 1981 Ed., § 1-1188.21; D.C. Law 6-85, § 821, as added May 8, 1998, D.C. Law 12-104, § 2(g), 45 DCR 1687.

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