In a qui tam (pronounced Kee-tam) action a private party (person or entity) brings an action by filing a lawsuit or claim on behalf of the government. The private party is called the relator and the government is the real plaintiff.

For example, under the federal False Claims Act a private party may bring a qui tam action against a party who has defrauded the federal government by submitting false claims for goods or services. See 31 U.S.C. §3279. If the lawsuit or claim is successful, the relator may receive up to 30% of the government’s recovery.

Because the relator is bringing the fraud to the attention of the federal government they are sometimes referred to as whistleblowers and the lawsuit or claim may be referred to as a whistleblower action.

Qui tam actions may originate in most any of the federal government’s departments, but two of the most common are the military (defense contractors selling goods and services to the U.S. government) and health care (Medicare and Medicaid services sold to the U.S. government). The Fraud Section of the United States Department of Justice generally investigates qui tam claims.

Most states also have a law known as the False Claims Act that that provides for qui tam or whistleblower actions brought on behalf of the state government. These laws vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Missouri, qui tam actions are a legal mechanism where a private party, known as a relator, can file a lawsuit on behalf of the government against individuals or entities suspected of defrauding the government. This is similar to the federal False Claims Act, which allows private citizens to sue on behalf of the federal government and share in any monetary recovery. Missouri has its own False Claims Act, which is designed to combat fraud against the state government. Under Missouri law, if a qui tam action is successful, the relator may receive a portion of the recovered funds as a reward for their role in uncovering the fraud. These actions are an important part of enforcing laws against fraud and protecting government resources, and they often involve sectors like defense contracting and healthcare, where government spending is significant. The specific provisions and potential rewards for whistleblowers under Missouri's False Claims Act can be found in the state's statutes.