§3802 False claims and statements; liability

Summary

Makes a person legally responsible if they submit a claim or written statement to the government that they know or should have known is false. This covers claims supported by false paperwork, statements that leave out important facts when the person had a duty to include them, and claims for payment for goods or services that were not actually provided. It also covers written statements that are signed or certified as true but are false or misleading. A penalty based on a claim generally cannot be assessed if the government never paid the claim. For one kind of claim, any extra penalty cannot exceed twice the value of what was wrongfully withheld. A finding that there is enough evidence, or that a person is liable, may be used to start administrative or contract actions but does not force officials to act and is not by itself proof that the person must be suspended or barred from federal contracting.