Can I keep my identity a secret if I file a Qui tam action?
If you file a Qui tam action, the Government will know your identity, and your name will likely be disclosed to the defendant at some point. During the initial seal period, (under the law) the defendant is not supposed to learn that you have filed the lawsuit; however, (in practice) defendants sometimes figure it out. After the seal period ends, when the Government announces its decision regarding intervention and the complaint is served on the defendant, your identity will be revealed. There are circumstances in which you may be able to file a Qui tam action and then voluntarily dismiss it during the seal period without having your identity revealed.
