Relator , female relatrix , (Latin for "narrator") is the legal term meaning a private person at whose relation or on whose behalf an application for a

quo warranto In law, especially English and American common law, ''quo warranto'' (Medieval Latin for "by what warrant?") is a prerogative writ requiring the person to whom it is directed to show what authority they have for exercising some right, power, or ...

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, Inc. The relator appears as one beneficially interested, but the action is maintained on his behalf. The relator furnishes the knowledge or facts on which an information or a proceeding in quo warranto is based. Such a proceeding is usually in the name of the state,

ex rel ''Ex rel.'' is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "''ex relatione'' (meaning " risingout of the relation/narration f the relator ). The term is a legal phrase; the legal citation guide, the ''Bluebook'', describes ''ex rel.'' as a "proced ...

. (''ex relatione'' = " risingout of the narration") of the relator, and so is called an "

. action".

Qui tam

qui tam In common law, a writ of ''qui tam'' is a writ through which private individuals who assist a prosecution can receive for themselves all or part of the damages or financial penalties recovered by the government as a result of the prosecution. Its ...

action may be brought by any party (as a relator) against an entity that is fraudulently collecting money from the United States government by filing false claims. The party bringing the suit – the relator – must have possession of information substantiating the claim of fraud against the government. The government shares a percentage of the monies collected, along with a share of treble damages and penalties if any, with the relator. The relator may be any entity including a private individual, trade association, or labor union. Congress authorized qui tam actions in the

False Claims Act The False Claims Act (FCA), also called the "Lincoln Law", is an American federal law that imposes liability on persons and companies (typically federal contractors) who defraud governmental programs. It is the federal government's primary litigat ...

References

Common law legal terminology Civil procedure Civil procedure legal terminology American legal terminology {{law-term-stub