Final answer:
Jim Black's filing of a qui tam lawsuit means he is alleging governmental fraud on behalf of the government as a whistleblower. Qui tam suits allow individuals to receive a portion of the recovered funds, differing from racial discrimination lawsuits that require proof of unequal pay due to race.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Jim Black files a qui tam lawsuit against a medical device maker, this means that he is acting as a whistleblower and is bringing a legal claim under the False Claims Act. In such a lawsuit, a private individual, known as a relator, alleges that a party has defrauded the government. This tool allows individuals to sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. It's worth noting that qui tam suits are different from racial discrimination lawsuits where someone must prove unequal pay due to race for similar work with similar qualifications.