Qui tam statistics

(Source: Department of Justice, through 9/30/03)

Total amount recovered where there is an associated qui tam case: $7.87 billion

Total amount recovered in cases that the Department of Justice (DOJ) entered or otherwise pursued: $7.5 billion

Total amount recovered by relators in cases declined by DOJ: $362 million

Total number of qui tam cases filed: 4,294

Qui tam cases filed (by fiscal year):

1987: 33
1988: 60
1989: 95
1990: 82
1991: 90
1992: 119
1993: 132
1994: 222
1995: 277
1996: 363
1997: 533
1998: 470
1999: 482
2000: 367
2001: 310
2002: 320
2003: 326

 Recoveries in qui tam cases pursued by DOJ (by fiscal year):

1988: $355,000
1989: $15 million
1990: $40 million
1991: $70 million
1992: $134 million
1993: $171 million
1994: $379.6 million
1995: $245 million
1996: $125 million
1997: $622.7 million
1998: $432.7 million
1999: $454 million
2000: $1.2 billion
2001: $1.16 billion
2002: $1.06 billion
2003: $1.39 billion

Recoveries in cases declined by DOJ (by fiscal year):

1988: $35,431
1989: 0
1990: $75,000
1991: $69,500
1992: $994,456
1993: $5.9 million
1994: $1.8 million
1995: $1.8 million
1996: $14 million
1997: $7 million
1998: $29.2 million
1999: $62.5 million
2000: $1.8 million
2001: $125.6 million
2002 $26 million
2003: $85 million

Relators' awards when DOJ intervened in or otherwise pursued the case, in cases where shares have been determined (total): $1.2 billion

Relators' awards when government declined to intervene (total): $89 million

DOJ's decision on qui tam cases:

Intervened or otherwise pursued: 750 cases

Active: 79
Settled or judgment: 639
Inactive 3
Unclear: 2
Dismissed, no recovery: 27

Declined: 2,653

Active: 268
Settled or judgment: 153
Inactive 10
Unclear 38
Dismissed, no recovery: 2,184

Under investigation: 891

Recoveries in qui tam cases involving health care fraud and defense fraud:

Health care:

Cases filed: 2,200
Government recovery: $5.17 billion
Relator share: $851.6 million

Defense:

Cases filed: 1,277
Government recovery $1.59 billion
Relator share: $291 million

Percentage of qui tam cases involving health care fraud (by fiscal year, as of 10/98):

1987: 12 percent
1988-1992: 15 percent each year
1993: 30 percent
1994: 36 percent
1995: 34 percent
1996: 56 percent
1997: 54 percent

Average FCA recovery in qui tam cases (both entered and declined) where there has been a recovery: $5.8 million (as of 11/99)

Median recovery in qui tam cases where there has been a recovery (does not include cases delegated to U.S. Attorneys' offices): $915,000 (as of 12/97)

Average relator's award in qui tam cases (both entered and declined) where there has been a recovery: $1 million (as of 11/99)

Median relator's award in qui tam cases where there has been a recovery (does not include cases delegated to U.S. Attorneys' offices): $183,000 (as of 12/97)

 Dept. of Justice press release on 2003 False Claims Act recoveries.