Source: http://www.halunenlaw.com/practice-areas/minnesota-qui-tam-lawyer/qui-tam-state-statutes/delaware-qui-tam-statutes/
Timestamp: 2017-05-28 08:35:41
Document Index: 509800782

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 23', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 24', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 25', '§ 1', '§ 27', '§ 28']

Delaware False Claims | Qui Tam State Statutes | Halunen Law
The Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act allows whistleblowers to bring qui tam lawsuits on behalf of the state government for violations of state law they observe or have unique knowledge of. The Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act makes it unlawful to present false or fraudulent claims to the state for payment or to conceal, avoid, or reduce an obligation to pay the state government of Delaware.Under the Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act a defendant may be liable for up to three times the damages incurred by the state due to the defendant’s conduct. A fine between $5,500 and $11,000 for each violation may also be imposed upon the defendant for each violation it commits.
Should the Delaware Attorney General intervene in the case, a whistleblower may be entitled to an award between 15% – 25% of the amount recovered from the case, including any penalties assessed against a defendant. In a case where the Attorney General declines to intervene a relator may be entitled to recover between 25% – 30% of any proceeds from the action or settlement.
Generally a whistleblower (also known as a plaintiff or relator) must file a complaint within ten years of the violations they are reporting.
Whistleblowers are also protected from retaliation by their employers under the Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act.
As amended through 79 Del. Laws, c. 141, approved by the Governor July 24, 2013.
(2) Knowingly makes, uses or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;
(3) Conspires to commit a violation of paragraph (a)(1), (2), (4), (5), (6) or (7) of this section;
(4) Has possession, custody or control of property or money used or to be used by the Government and knowingly delivers or causes to be delivered, less than all of that money or property;
(7) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government.
shall be liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not less than $ 5,500 and not more than $ 11,000 for each act constituting a violation of this section, plus 3 times the amount of damages which the Government sustains because of the act of that person.
A person violating this subsection shall also be liable for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any such penalty or damages, including payment of reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
72 Del. Laws, c. 370, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 166, §§ 1-4; 79 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 1.
(1) “Claim” means any request or demand, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money or property and whether or not the Government has title to the money or property, that:
a. Is presented to an officer, employee, or agent of the Government; or
b. Is made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient, if the money or property is to be spent or used on the Government’s behalf or to advance a Government program or interest, and if the Government:
1. Provides or has provided any portion of the money or property requested or demanded; or
2. Will reimburse such contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded.
“Claim” does not include requests or demands for money or property that the Government has paid to an individual as compensation for employment with the Government or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on that individual’s use of the money or property.
c. Acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information, and no proof of specific intent to defraud is required.
(4) “Material” includes anything having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property.
(5) “Obligation” includes an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee relationship, from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any overpayment.
72 Del. Laws, c. 370, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 166, §§ 5, 6; 79 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 1.
(b) Private actions.
(2) A copy of the complaint and written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information the private party possesses shall be served on the Department of Justice pursuant to Rules 4 and 5 of the Superior Court Civil Rules. The complaint shall be filed in camera and shall remain under seal for at least 60 days. The complaint shall not be served on the defendant until the expiration of 60 days or any extension approved under paragraph (b)(3) of this section. Within 60 days after receiving a copy of the complaint, the Department of Justice shall conduct an investigation of the factual allegations and legal contentions made in the complaint. The Department of Justice may elect to intervene and proceed with the action within 60 days after it receives the complaint, the material evidence and information.
(5) When a party brings an action under this subsection, no party other than the Department of Justice may intervene or bring a related action based on the facts underlying the pending action.
72 Del. Laws, c. 370, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 166, §§ 7-12; 79 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 1.
(a) In no event may a person bring an action under this chapter which is based upon allegations or transactions which are the subject of a civil suit or an administrative proceeding in which the government is already a party.
(b) The court shall dismiss an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the government, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed:
(1) In any criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the government or its agent is a party;
(2) In any government-generated report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or
(3) From the news media.
The requirement to dismiss actions or claims as set forth in this subsection shall not apply to actions brought by the Attorney General or where the person bringing the action is an original source of the information.
(c) For purposes of this section, “original source” means an individual who either:
(1) Prior to a public disclosure under subsection (b) of this section, has voluntarily disclosed to the government the information on which allegations or transactions in a claim are based, or
(2) Who has knowledge that is independent of and materially adds to the publicly disclosed allegations or transactions, and who has voluntarily provided the information to the government before filing an action under this section.
72 Del. Laws, c. 370, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 166, § 23; 79 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 1.
(a) Any employee, contractor, or agent shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make that employee, contractor, or agent whole, if that employee, contractor, or agent is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent or associated others in furtherance of an action under this chapter or other efforts to stop 1 or more violations of this chapter.
Such relief shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. An action under this subsection may be brought in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware in and for the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred. A civil action under this subsection may not be brought more than 3 years after the date when the alleged retaliation occurred.
72 Del. Laws, c. 370, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 166, § 24; 79 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 1.
(2) More than 3 years after the date when facts material to the right of action are known or reasonably should have been known by the official of the Government charged with responsibility to act in the circumstances,
but in no event more than 10 years after the date on which the violation is committed, whichever occurs last.
(e) For statute of limitations purposes, any Government pleading shall relate back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action, to the extent that the claim of the Government arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the prior complaint of that person.
72 Del. Laws, c. 370, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 166, §§ 25, 26; 79 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 1.
77 Del. Laws, c. 166, § 27.;
77 Del. Laws, c. 166, § 28.;