A qui tam “relator” is the legal term for the private individual or entity that files a qui tam lawsuit. The qui tam relator may be more than one individual or even a business or a partnership. Qui tam relators have certain defined rights under the False Claims Act, such as the right to pursue qui tam cases on their own, if the government declines to join.
Qui tam relators have received rewards totaling more than $8 billion since the False Claims Act was amended and strengthened in 1986.