| Practice Areas The Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act (Virginia Code §8.01-216.1 et seq.) Qui tam litigation under the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act ("VFATA") is a specialty of the firm. Founding partner Zachary Kitts was the first lawyer in private practice to prosecute a non-intervened case under the statute, and is recognized as one of the leading experts in Virginia on the VFATA. Zach also holds the current record for the largest non-healthcare recovery under the statute. The Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act--which is closely modeled on the Federal False Claims Act--protects the Commonwealth's fisc by imposing liability on anyone making a knowingly false or fraudulent claim to the Commonwealth for money or property. The statute imposes treble damages, civil penalties, attorney’s fees, and costs on those who violate its terms. Perhaps most important, any "person" with non-public, first-hand information about fraud on the Commonwealth can hire their own qui tam counsel, and prosecute a case in the name of the Commonwealth. Such individuals are called "relators" in the language of the statute, and they are entitled to receive anywhere from 15 to 30 percent of the Commonwealth's recovery. Zach is also the author of a widely-read blog on the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act and qui tam practice in Virginia, which is found at www.vaquitamlaw.com To learn whether you might have a case under the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, please call Zach or click here. |
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