The time period between filing of qui tam action and its final resolution varies greatly from case to case. You should, however, be prepared for a qui tam action to take several years. As with other complex federal civil litigation, defendants can delay the action by contentious, costly, and time-consuming discovery and motions. In addition, the duration of a qui tam action is extended by the initial period where the case is under seal, which lasts a minimum of 60 days and may last over a year.
However, it is also true that some qui tam actions can be settled relatively quickly (i.e., within a year of filing), especially when the government decides to intervene.