While whistleblowers cannot litigate their own cases under the False Claims Act without an attorney when the government declines to join in litigating them, there are important additional reasons not to proceed with filing your whistleblower case without the assistance of an experienced lawyer.
A lawyer can assist you in shaping your case and ultimately presenting the strongest possible theory of the case to the Department of Justice. The Justice Department receives a large number of False Claims cases each year but has a comparatively small number of lawyers assigned to work on False Claims cases. As a result, the government is only likely to join those cases that are presented most compellingly. Cases joined by the government have a significantly higher likelihood of success compared to those litigated alone. Therefore, hiring a lawyer in the early stages of a case can make the difference between success and failure.
Many clients wonder whether they can afford an experienced lawyer. At Cutt, Kendell & Olson, we work on contingency meaning that our clients do not need to put up any money to have our lawyers examine and litigate their case. We bring expertise and experience to False Claims cases and are among a very small number of lawyers in the Mountain West whose practice is focused solely on whistleblower litigation. If you are aware of a situation in which the government was cheated by a corporation or individual, contact an attorney at Cutt, Kendell & Olson for a free consultation.