Recently, Gunster's Monique Zapata authored a column for the Tampa Bay Business Journal discussing why Tampa businesses shouldn't try and evade tariffs. While understanding the temptation for local businesses to dodge these added costs, Monique addresses the consequences of evasion posed by qui tam actions under the False Claims Act, FCA. The article also outlines how businesses facing a qui tam claim under the FCA can pursue different defense strategies.
*Gunster Summer Associate Iara Dircie contributed to this publication.
Monique Zapata is a business litigation and government investigations attorney in Gunster’s Fort Lauderdale office. Having served as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Rodolfo A. Ruiz II in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Monique offers her clients a unique and informed perspective on federal court practice. Monique has also maintained an active pro bono practice and has represented survivors of human trafficking in expunging criminal records in Florida. As part of this pro bono work, Monique has sat on the South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force and the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition.
