The most significant difference between most civil lawsuits and a False Claim Act case is that the complaint in an FCA action is filed under seal.  The complaint is not served on the defendant until the government completes its investigation and notifies the court as to whether it will intervene in the case. In addition to the complaint, a relator must serve a “disclosure statement” on the Department of Justice in a qui tam action. The disclosure statement contains a detailed  explication of the specific allegations, the evidence supporting those allegations, and a list of prospective witnesses. Unlike other lawsuits, the relator in a qui tam action is prohibited from discussing the case with anyone (excluding their attorneys and the U.S. attorneys) while the complaint remains under seal.