August 25, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In a False Claims Act and wrongful retaliation lawsuit filed earlier this year, a former Montgomery County laboratory technician is making startling allegations against Abington Hospital and its administration, including the assertion that she was unfairly threatened with termination following her decision to expose alleged billing discrepancies. The cause of action, which […]
August 22, 2014
False Claims Act Legal News
The federal False Claims Act contains several provisions that essentially work to bar plaintiffs with certain types of actions from filing a whistleblower claim. One of these bars is known as the “public disclosure bar,” and it prevents a whistleblower from filing a claim involving allegations of fraud against the […]
August 21, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In the largest-ever False Claims Act settlement in the Middle District of Tennessee, Community Health Systems has agreed to pay $98.15 million to resolve allegations it was engaging in fraudulent activity with Medicare and Medicaid patients, including unlawful referrals and kickback schemes. This settlement resolves several lawsuits filed by whistleblowers […]
August 20, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
Earlier this year, we reported on a False Claims Act case filed in the State of New York under its state level False Claims Act, which was then joined by the New York Attorney General’s Office. The case, which involves Continuum Health Partners and affiliated Mt. Sinai Health System, has […]
August 19, 2014
Contractor Fraud
Fraud by government contractors is one of the most common scenarios triggering liability under the False Claims Act. Beginning in the Civil War era, government contractors would routinely engage in misconduct by offering goods and services that fell far short of the requirements delineated in the contractual agreement. In today’s […]
August 18, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice late last month, Mobile, Alabama-based Infirmary Health, Inc. has agreed to pay over $24 million to settle claims it engaged in unlawful kickback schemes and fraudulent conduct in violation of the False Claims Act. The allegations specifically address unlawful […]
August 15, 2014
Contractor Fraud
In a recent announcement by the Department of Justice, Hewlett-Packard has settled allegations it bilked the federal government out of millions of dollars during a ten-year contract for the provision of computer software and maintenance services. The computer giant agreed to remit a staggering $32.5 million to settle claims advanced […]
August 14, 2014
False Claims Act Legal News
Over the past few days, we have examined a recent oversight committee hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives through its Committee on Judiciary. Specifically, the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice elicited testimony from several experts in the field of ethics and whistleblower laws, including several opinions […]
August 13, 2014
False Claims Act Legal News
In yesterday’s post, we discussed the recent oversight hearing conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives through its Committee on Judiciary. The hearing, which took place at the end of July, was called in order to address the effectiveness of the False Claims Act, areas ripe for improvement, and issues […]
August 12, 2014
False Claims Act Legal News
Late last month, Congress convened a panel of experts in its first False Claims Act oversight hearing in nearly six years. The purpose of the hearing, which was called by the Committee on Judiciary through its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, was to enlist the opinions of several […]
August 8, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In a recent False Claims Act settlement, Minneapolis-based Vascular Solutions, Inc. (“VSI”) has agreed to pay $520,000 to the federal government in order to settle claims it unlawfully marketed its products for the treatment of varicose veins. The company, which has admitted no liability or guilt in the matter, agreed […]
August 6, 2014
False Claims Act Legal News
As you likely know, federal whistleblower laws are designed to protect relators from backlash or adverse employment decisions based solely on the whistleblower’s decision to come forward. Known as anti-retaliation laws, employees who opt to file a whistleblower lawsuit under the False Claims Act may also advance a separate cause […]