featured news

Lockheed Martin Pays $27.5 Million to Settle Claims It Employed Unqualified Staff

The federal False Claims Act got its start addressing costly and wasteful fraud under defense contracts executed during the American Civil War. Since that time, it has proven highly successful in exposing and redressing this sort of wasteful misconduct, including a recent settlement with aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin. In today’s […]

Record Storage Company Settles False Claims Allegations Regarding Their Government Contract

When a private company enters into a contract with the federal government, the terms contained within the agreement must be adhered to in order to avoid exposure to False Claims Act liability. One foundational requirement is that, during the negotiation phase of the contract, companies must be truthful, forthcoming, and […]

Kaplan Education Services Settles False Claims Act Allegations With Federal Government

Over the past several years, there have been several lawsuits and allegations made involving for-profit universities essentially swindling unsuspecting college students out of their tuition money in exchange for a sub-par education that does not meet general academic standards. For instance, several claims have been made about Tier 4 law […]

Pennsylvania-Based Easton Hospital to Pay $662,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

In January 2015, two parent companies of the Pennsylvania-based Easton Hospital agreed to pay $662,000 to settle claims of false billing and unlawful practices involving Medicare and Medicaid patients. Northampton Hospital Co. LLC and Northampton Hospital Corp. agreed to the settlement following the filing of a formal complaint under the […]

Five States Collect Payouts From DaVita Healthcare Partners Lawsuit Settlement

DaVita Healthcare Partners is one of the nation’s leading providers of dialysis services, with clinics in 46 states. DaVita agreed to one of the largest healthcare fraud settlements in fiscal year 2014 with regard to its alleged submission of false claims to programs like Medicare and Medicaid for reimbursement. As […]

Massachusetts Attorney General Settles False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Cleaning Company

The Massachusetts False Claims Act has proven time and time again to be a vital component in the war against fraud and wasteful misuse of taxpayer money. In other posts, we have discussed settlements with companies like Office Depot and an environmental cleanup outfit, both of which settled allegations of […]

2014 Proves to Be a Great Year for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Following in the footsteps of government agencies like the SEC and IRS, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) had an eventful fiscal year 2014, resulting in its first-ever whistleblower reward and a significant jump in complaints over fiscal year 2013. Much like the qui tam provisions of the False Claims […]

Using Confidential Patient Information to Support a Qui Tam Case: What’s Allowed?

Patient records are considered highly confidential and are protected from unlawful dissemination by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPPA”). However, in light of a healthcare fraud-based False Claims Act allegation, how do patient confidentiality laws intersect with the rights of plaintiffs to expose healthcare facilities alleged […]

Verizon to Pay $1.3 Million to Settle Allegations of Overcharging for Services

Contract fraud is one of the most common issues addressed by the False Claims Act, and it can be found in virtually any industry. In today’s case, we explore a recent settlement between Verizon New England, Inc. and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts involving overcharges for services pursuant to lucrative contracts […]

Courageous FIFA Whistleblower Takes on Massive World Cup Bidding Fraud

In a departure from our typical reports of domestic false claims and fraud, today’s post discusses the ongoing battle between courageous whistleblower Phaedra Almajid and her bid to expose massive fraud in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup soccer games. The games, which are governed by […]

Countrywide Whistleblower Receives Mega-Reward of $57 Million

Under the False Claims Act’s qui tam provisions, individual private plaintiffs – who are often in a better position to report and relay the details of fraud against the government – can receive rewards of up to 30 percent of the total settlement or verdict obtained on behalf of U.S. […]

Stryker Pays $80 Million to Resolve Allegations of Healthcare Fraud

A subsidiary of the Stryker Corporation has agreed to pay $80 million after pleading guilty to marketing and selling certain knee replacement products without government approval. The OtisMed group, which manufacturers “cutting guides” used to achieve a perfect incision and implantation during knee replacements, has refused to admit any sort […]