Case Summaries 
of Importance to Counties

2011 False Claims Act

• Knox County ex rel. Environmental Termite & Pest Control Inc. v. Arrow Exterminators Inc., 36 TAM 31-3—Dispute arose as to whether company qualified as qui tam plaintiff under the False Claims Act.  Company undertook its own investigation to uncover overbilling practices perpetrated against the county by some of its contractors.  Company did use public records in its investigation but it was company’s research that uncovered the overbilling practices.  When company started its investigation, no other investigations or proceeding had commenced.  Thus, company was “original source” under the Act and entitled to a portion of the county’s settlement (July 20, 2011).