April 10, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In a recent press release, the Department of Justice applauds the concerted efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services with the FBI in identifying and investigating allegations of billing fraud spanning nearly six years. According to allegations, Texas-based Valley Heart Consultants was engaging in the practice of performing […]
April 9, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
Late last year, the federal Department of Justice settled a long-running dispute with drug maker Johnson & Johnson over allegations of the off-label marketing of the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal. As is often the case, Johnson & Johnson also faced several state False Claims Act and Deceptive Trade Practices Act allegations, […]
April 8, 2014
False Claims Act Legal News
In today’s case, we explore a unique False Claims Act settlement alleging unlawful collaboration between several competitors in the maritime shipping business. Specifically, a qui tam lawsuit alleges a private business relationship between two cargo companies for purposes of driving up bids for work with both the U.S. Postal Service […]
April 7, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
Memorial Hospital, located in Fremont, Ohio, is a non-profit organization allegedly involved in improper billing practices for services provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients. It has also recently resolved allegations under the Stark Law involving unlawful financial relationships with other entities in the medical field. All in all, Memorial has […]
April 4, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In a case involving Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, LLC, the Department of Justice recently settled hundreds of allegations of Medicare and Medicaid fraud relating to the improper recommendation of the generic drug clozapine – considered a drug of last resort for the treatment of schizophrenia. According to allegations, Teva, through its […]
April 3, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
In a recent settlement involving the False Claims Act’s anti-kickback provisions and the federal Stark Law, Pittsburgh’s West Penn Allegheny Health System has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle claims it engaged in an unlawful exchange of benefits with Pittsburgh-area doctors and facilities. The case was handled by the […]
April 2, 2014
SEC Fraud
In 2010, the Dodd Frank Act was enacted to further financial reform and bring about greater integrity from those working on Wall Street. One of the hallmark features of the Act involves the implementation of a whistleblower program designed to incentivize those with original information about securities fraud to come […]
April 1, 2014
Tax Fraud
The federal False Claims Act has proven to be so effective in combating healthcare, defense, and other types of fraud against the government that the majority of U.S. states have enacted similar statutes to address fraud within their own borders. In New York, the False Claims Act expressly includes acts […]
March 31, 2014
Military Contractor Fraud
Over the past year, we have examined a False Claims Act case against one of the largest military contractors in the world: Kellogg, Brown & Root. Known as KBR, this firm has been awarded over $40 billion in government work throughout the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, primarily for logistical support. […]
March 28, 2014
Environmental Fraud
In a recent case out of Massachusetts, oil giant Shell has agreed to pay $4 million to the Commonwealth in order to settle claims it improperly billed for environmental cleanup services. We have reported in the past on the importance of state-level false claims acts, which often work to supplement […]
March 27, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
The Department of Justice announced a $3.9 million settlement with a palliative care company responsible for operating a number of hospice care facilities in the Southeast United States. The case involves alleged fraudulent invoices to Medicare for end-of-life care that did not meet Medicare guidelines for coverage – thus meeting […]
March 26, 2014
Healthcare Fraud
The San Antonio-based grocery store H-E-B was recently involved in an extensive Medicaid fraud case involving several in-store pharmacies across the Texas area. The case was filed in 2011 by three pharmacists who, while not employees of H-E-B, worked in other states filling prescription orders for the company. The contents […]