The decision on whether to file a False Claims Act (qui tam) lawsuit is never an easy one despite the reward and job protection the False Claims Act offers.

There are many factors for a person to consider, including the effect being a whistleblower will have on the his or her personal and professional lives. People who file qui tam lawsuits also have to be prepared to spend a tremendous amount of time and effort working on their cases.

But many people decide the risks are worth taking and the effort worth making because it’s the right thing to do or they fear that the fraud might result in someone getting injured or killed.

Here are the stories of a few whistleblowers. One of them, Robert Wityczak, tells what happened to him before the False Claims Act was amended in 1986. The others were able to benefit from the amended law and were represented by attorneys with Phillips & Cohen.