Source: http://falseclaimsactattorney.com/false-claims-act/state-fca-laws/hawaii/
Timestamp: 2014-09-23 16:20:35
Document Index: 461311587

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 661', '§ 661', '§ 661', '§1', '§28', '§661', '§1', '§661', '§1', '§28', '§661', '§1', '§28', '§661', '§1', '§28', '§661', '§1', '§661', '§1', '§661', '§1']

Hawaii False Claims Act Attorney | Whistleblower Lawyer | Qui Tam Law Firm
honest place to buy viagracompare cialis prices overseasviagra india pharmacyviagra 100 mg fast deslove tabletscomprar cialis 20mgcialis user forumWhistleblowers with knowledge of fraud on Hawaii funds may bring suit on the state’s behalf and share in the recovery, under the Hawaii State False Claims Act which was first enacted in 2000. Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 661-21 of the Act, an individual may face civil liability for knowingly presenting or causing to be presented a false or fraudulent claim, conspiring to do so, or engaging in other fraudulent activity specified by law.
The Hawaii False Claims Act is modeled on the federal False Claims Act, and cases brought under one statute are often brought in conjunction with claims under the other. Violation of the Hawaii False Claims Act exposes an individual for civil penalties up to three times the total damages to the state. Further, the Act imposes civil penalties ranging between $5,000 – $10,000 for each individual false claim in violation of the Act.
A private individual with direct knowledge of a Hawaii State False Claims Act violation is authorized to file a suit under the Act’s qui tam provisions. The qui tam relator, often referred to as a “whistleblower,” may proceed with the action regardless of whether the government chooses to intervene.
Persons with information about fraud on the state of Hawaii are urged to preserve their rights by consulting an attorney and filing a case as soon as possible. A disclosure to the Hawaii state government pursuant to Haw. Rev. Stat. § 661-28 may preserve a person’s rights as an original source of the information about fraud.
Hawaii State False Claims Act
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 661-21 et seq.
(f) This section shall not apply to claims, records, or statements for which procedures and remedies are otherwise specifically provided for under chapter 231. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1; am L 2001, c 55, §28(1)]
[§661-22] Civil actions for false claims. The attorney general shall investigate any violation under section 661-21. If the attorney general finds that a person has violated or is violating section 661-21, the attorney general may bring a civil action under this section. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1]
§661-23 Evidentiary determination; burden of proof. A determination that a person has violated the provisions of this part shall be based on a preponderance of the evidence. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1; am L 2001, c 55, §28(2)]
§661-24 Statute of limitations. An action for false claims to the State pursuant to this part shall be brought within six years after the false claim is discovered or by exercise of reasonable diligence should have been discovered and, in any event, no more than ten years after the date on which the violation of section 661-21 is committed. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1; am L 2001, c 55, §28(3)]
§661-25 Action by private persons. (a) A person may bring a civil action for a violation of section 661-21 for the person and for the State. The action shall be brought in the name of the State. The action may be dismissed only with the written consent of the court, taking into account the best interests of the parties involved and the public purposes behind this part.
(e) When a person brings an action under this section, no person other than the State may intervene or bring a related action based on the facts underlying the pending action. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1; am L 2001, c 55, §28(4)]
[§661-27] Awards to qui tam plaintiffs. (a) If the State proceeds with an action brought by a person under section 661-25, the person shall receive at least fifteen per cent but not more than twenty-five per cent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, depending upon the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action. Where the action is one that the court finds to be 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 sums as it considers appropriate, but in no case more than ten per cent of the proceeds, taking into account the significance of the information and the role of the person bringing the action in advancing the case to litigation. Any payment to a person under this subsection shall be made from the proceeds. [The] person shall also receive an amount for reasonable expenses that the court finds to have been necessarily incurred, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. All expenses, fees, and costs shall be awarded against the defendant.
(3) That is based upon allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil or criminal investigation by the State, civil suit, or an administrative civil money penalty proceeding in which the State is already a party. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1]
[§661-28] Jurisdiction. No court shall have jurisdiction over an action under this part based upon the 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 action is brought by the attorney general or the person bringing the action is an original source of the information. For purposes of this section:
“Original source” means an individual who has direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are based and has voluntarily provided the information to the State before filing an action under this part that is based on the information, and whose information provided the basis or catalyst for the investigation, hearing, audit, or report that led to the public disclosure. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1]
[§661-29] Fees and costs of litigation. The State shall not be liable for expenses or fees, including attorney fees, that a person incurs in bringing an action under this part and shall not elect to pay those expenses or fees. [L 2000, c 126, pt of §1]