February 16, 2015
Contractor Fraud
Under the federal False Claims Act, it is unlawful for individuals and businesses to submit claims for reimbursement or funding based on fraudulent, falsified, or exaggerated facts. If a company submits improper claims and evidence shows there was intent to defraud (as opposed to accidental fraud), the business may have […]
February 13, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
The Washington Attorney General’s Office lauded its 2015 recovery of $3.35 million on behalf of state taxpayers and the state Medicaid program. In today’s case, we explore a 2015 recovery involving the nearly decade-long overbilling scheme alleged to have been perpetrated by a Seattle-area dentists’ office regularly treating both pediatric […]
February 12, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
As we have explored in the past, many False Claims Act lawsuits end in a negotiated settlement between the relator/whistleblower, federal government, and defendants alleged to have committed fraudulent acts of misconduct against U.S. taxpayers. The terms of the settlement – which almost always include a clause disclaiming any liability […]
February 11, 2015
Military Contractor Fraud
The False Claims Act is one of the most successful federal statutes when it comes to recouping money lost due to wasteful fraud committed against the government and, as a result, the taxpayers. When it was enacted, soldiers and other participants in the U.S. Civil War were experiencing widespread fraud […]
February 10, 2015
SEC Fraud
In a victory for the Securities and Exchange Commission, the securities ratings firm Standard & Poor’s has agreed to settle claims it fraudulently certified certain mortgage-backed securities as good investments, as well as claims the firm used a certain methodology to calculate risk with regard to commercial mortgage-based securities when, […]
February 9, 2015
Mortgage Fraud
Over the last few posts, we have engaged in an in-depth look at a relatively rare issue involving confidentiality during the investigative stage of a False Claims Act whistleblower case. The case, known as United States ex rel. Bibby v. Wells Fargo, N.A., has garnered some national attention as the […]
February 6, 2015
Mortgage Fraud
As we discussed in yesterday’s post, the Eleventh Circuit recently handed down a ruling in a case of first impression: What sort of punishment should a relator face for breaching confidentiality rules during the investigative stage of a whistleblower action? We reviewed the rules of filing under seal and why […]
February 5, 2015
Mortgage Fraud
Over the next three posts, we will explore a recent case handled by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit – a jurisdiction covering Alabama, Florida, and Georgia – involving sanctions against a courageous whistleblower with an apparent misunderstanding of the rules of confidential seals. In today’s post, […]
February 4, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
Healthcare fraud is a rampant problem in the United States. Each year, the False Claims Act proves integral in recovering billions of dollars from wayward hospitals, management corporations and physicians. Under the False Claims Act, individuals known as whistleblowers (or relators) can file their own lawsuit on behalf of the […]
February 3, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has reached a false claims settlement agreement with a popular Orlando-based dermatology clinic known as Associates in Dermatology. The lawsuit was filed by three former employees of the clinic who had firsthand knowledge of the type of fraudulent misconduct occurring […]
February 2, 2015
Healthcare Fraud
Hot on the heels of the record-breaking fiscal year 2014, the U.S. government continues to pursue and prosecute costly and wasteful healthcare fraud. In today’s case, we explore the facts of a situation occurring in the South Carolina-based Nason Medical Center. The center, located in Charleston, is alleged to have […]
January 30, 2015
Mortgage Fraud
Following the 2008 housing crisis, the federal government went to great lengths to ensure struggling homeowners were afforded every possible opportunity to keep their homes. One such effort, known as the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), was enacted in 2009 to help borrowers who were “upside down” or “underwater” on […]