Judith A. Neal v. Honeywell Inc. And Alliant Techsystems Inc.

EASTERBROOK, Circuit Judge.

The False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-31, penalizes contractors who submit fraudulent bills to the United States. Private citizens may pursue qui tarn actions under the Act, taking a portion of the recovery as reward (and incentive) for their efforts. In 1986 Congress added a whistleblower-protection provision, forbidding retaliation against employees who turn in their employers for violating the Act. 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h). About a year after the anti-retaliation provision went into effect, Judith Neal, an employee in Honeywell’s personnel department, discovered via…