Maryland False Claims Act

In 2015, the State of Maryland adopted the Maryland False Claims Act (“Maryland FCA”), its own version of the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”). The Maryland FCA allows private individuals to bring a qui tam case against a person or entity for submitting or causing the submission of fraudulent claims to the state government or any political subdivision of the State, such as a county, city, town, or school district.

Like the federal FCA, the Maryland FCA allows for financial rewards to whistleblowers for bringing an action on behalf of the State. If the State intervenes in the case, the whistleblower may receive 15-25% of the recovery.

The Maryland FCA expands upon Maryland’s False Health Claims Act, which only imposes liability on people or entities who present false claims related to Maryland state health plans or programs, including Medicaid. The Maryland FCA is not limited to health plans or programs and broadly applies to all types of false claims.

Maryland False Claims Act and Federal False Claims Act Similarities

Key provisions of the Maryland FCA mirror the federal FCA, such as:

• Liability attaches under the Maryland FCA for: submitting a false claim for payment to the State, making or using a false record or statement material to a false claim, failing to deliver all of the property owed to the State, creating or submitting a false receipt, making a false purchase, or conspiring to do any of these actions.
• Once an action is brought under the Maryland FCA, it remains under seal for at least 60 days.
• The Maryland FCA prohibits employers from retaliating against whistleblower employees. Retaliation includes firing, demoting, suspending, threatening, or harassing the employee. If the employer does retaliate, the employee is entitled to the reinstatement of their position, two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any damages sustained because of the discrimination.

Maryland False Claims Act and Federal False Claims Act Differences

• The Maryland FCA allows a recovery for a fraud that cost money to either the State of Maryland OR to any political subdivision of the State, such as a county, city, or school district.
• Unlike the federal FCA, if the Maryland Attorney General decides not to intervene in a qui tam action, the case is dismissed; the whistleblower does not have the right to proceed with the action in Court.

Read more about what whistleblower clients can expect from our lawyers here.

Contact Us to Learn More

Do you need a Whistleblower Lawyer or want to know more information about Qui Tam Law and your rights under the False Claims Act?

There are three easy ways to contact our firm for a free, confidential evaluation with one of our whistleblower attorneys:

1. Fill out the contact form on this page.
2. Email [email protected]
3. Call (844) 781-3088

Your submission will be reviewed by a Berger Montague qui tam attorney and remain confidential.