Whistleblowers to get big payout after pursuing military contract fraud
A Guam resident and a California resident, who uncovered “substantial fraud” being committed by a Japanese company doing construction work for the U.S. military on Guam, have been awarded $775,000 for their efforts, according to an order signed Friday in federal court.
William and Fred Toelkes in 2013 filed suit against the Japanese company Toa Corporation under the federal “False Claims Act.” It allows private citizens to sue for false claims made against the federal government, on behalf of the federal government.
It states if the federal government decides to pursue the matter and recovers money from a fraudulent claim, the private citizens who brought the lawsuit are entitled to receive between 15 and 25 percent of the amount recovered by the government.
District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood this month decided to award William and Fred Toelkes 25 percent - the maximum amount of the $3.1 million settlement between the federal government TOA corporation. Documents state William Toelkes is a Guam resident and Fred Toelkes lives in California.
Read more: http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/11/17/whistleblowers-get-big-payout-after-pursuing-military-contract-fraud/873424001/