Relator defined
A relator is the private person who brings a qui tam action under the False Claims Act. The word comes from the Latin phrase describing someone who pursues a claim for the sovereign as well as for themselves.
In everyday terms, the relator is the whistleblower — often an employee, contractor, or insider who witnessed fraud against federal programs and works with counsel to file a sealed complaint.
Relator vs. plaintiff
In a typical civil lawsuit, the injured party is the plaintiff. In qui tam litigation, the United States is the real party in interest, and the relator stands in the government's shoes for purposes of the case.
If the government intervenes, it may take over primary control of litigation while the relator remains a party entitled to a share of any recovery.
What relators must show
Relators generally need firsthand knowledge of fraud, not mere suspicion. They must file under seal, serve the government, and comply with heightened pleading rules.
Eligibility limits apply: certain government officials, participants in the fraud, and those whose claims are barred by public disclosure or first-to-file rules may not qualify.