U.S. Attorney Numbers
The False Claims Act (FCA) confers nationwide jurisdiction, so whistleblowers can file cases, “where any defendant transacts business,” 31 U.S.C. 3732(a). Many cases could be filed in many different Districts. It is therefore, relevant to see which districts have had the most success, as measured in judgments and settlements, relator share, and claims, in the recent past. Fortunately, TAF retains a case-by-case listing, including all public data on settlements and judgments as soon as any become available.
Below we compile information from that listing for fiscal years 2021-2025 showing the Districts that had the most financial success over that time. Twenty-seven (27) out of the ninety-four (94) federal districts obtained more than $100 million in settlements and judgements in cases under the FCA. Four Jurisdictions Colorado, Delaware, and the Virginia Eastern District, were tantalizingly close to making this threshold.1
The Districts that had the most financial success over the last five years are:
The next list shows the same Districts sorted by reported “Relator’s share” which is the amount of money awarded to a whistleblower who filed a successful case:
Finally, because some districts made the list as a result of a relatively few number of large cases, it is worth noting which of these districts handled the most claims.
The Eastern District of Pennsylvania leads the nation in this respect:
The FCA has been getting significant results for taxpayers in these jurisdictions over the past five years. While some jurisdictions did not make the list, they may be added in the future as more FCA settlements and judgments are announced.
This piece was written by Tony Munter with Price Benowitz LLP
1 If there is a jurisdiction that has obtained more than $100 Million and we do not have the data, we urge officials of the relevant U.S. Attorney’s office to contact TAF and we will only be too happy to update this list.
2 Information regarding Relator’s share includes all public case information. Cases filed by the Government without a whistleblower do not provide a Relator’s share. In instances when multiple cases are consolidated or other districts are involved, the list only credits claims in the district that retained jurisdiction after the case was filed and through adjudication or settlement.
3 Here “Claims” counts each judgement or settlement as one “Claim.” A False Claims Act case, of course, can be filed against multiple defendants and can result in multiple judgements or settlements.
