qui tam action
qui tam action (kwI tam). [Latin qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur “who as well for the king as for himself sues in this matter”] An action brought under a statute that allows a private person to sue for a penalty, part of which the government or some specified public institution will receive. — Often shortened to qui tam (Q.T.). — Also termed popular action. See FALSE CLAIMS ACT. [Cases: United States 122. C.J.S. United States §§ 212–215, 242, 272.]