# Justice Manual § 9-42.440: Provisions for the Handling of Qui Tam Suits Filed Under the False Claims Act

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.440

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-42.440
- **Heading:** Provisions for the Handling of Qui Tam Suits Filed Under the False Claims Act
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-42.000 - Fraud Against the Government / Justice Manual § 9-42.440

## Text

In 1986, Congress amended the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729
et seq.
,
see generally
False Claims Act Amendments of 1986, Pub. L. 99-562, 100 Stat. 3153 (October 27, 1986),
reprinted in
, 10A USCCAN (December 1986). One of the Congress's objectives in modifying the Act was to encourage the use of qui tam actions in which citizens are authorized to bring, as "private Attorneys General," lawsuits on behalf of the United States alleging frauds upon the government.

When United States Attorneys receive information about a qui tam action, they should promptly forward a copy of the complaint and statement of evidence to the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division, particularly because relators frequently fail to serve the Attorney General or delay in doing so. The Commercial Litigation Branch will contact the agency involved, the Criminal Division, and, frequently, the Inspector General of the agency, to determine if the allegations are known to them and to obtain an assessment of the material evidence furnished by the relator. The Criminal Division will, in turn, check with appropriate United States Attorneys' offices (USAOs) and investigative agencies to determine if the allegations relate to a pending criminal investigation. Because of the 60-day deadline, it must be emphasized that a prompt response is required to these inquiries.

[updated January 2020]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-42.001 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.001.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.010 Coordination of Criminal and Civil Fraud Against the Government Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.160 False Statements to a Federal Criminal Investigator](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.160.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.191 Application of Appropriate Statute](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.191.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.420 Federal Procurement Fraud Unit](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.420.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.430 Department of Defense Voluntary Disclosure Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.430.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.440 Provisions for the Handling of Qui Tam Suits Filed Under the False Claims Act](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.440.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.451 Plea Bargaining in Medicare-Medicaid Frauds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.451.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.500 Referral Procedures—Relationship and Coordination With the Statutory Inspectors General](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.500.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.510 Social Security Fraud](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.510.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.530 Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.530.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.440. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.