WB Group Successes Archives - Constantine Cannon

Major Banks – Procurement Fraud/Finance ($70 million)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in an Illinois False Claims Act case alleging eight of the nation’s largest banks – including Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Fifth Third, BMO, and William Blair – engaged in widespread fraud and collusion in the fees they charged and the interest rates they set for Illinois tax-exempt municipal bonds known as VRDOs. In February 2024, the banks paid $70 million to settle the matter, making it the largest reported settlement ever under the Illinois False Claims Act. Our client received a whistleblower award of roughly $14 million. Read more – Bond Buyer, PR Newswire, CC.

Constantine Cannon Announces Record $70 Million Whistleblower Settlement for Alleged Municipal Bond Fraud and Price Fixing

Posted 03/22/24

The Constantine Cannon whistleblower team is pleased to announce a $70 million settlement for its client Edelweiss Fund LLC in a whistleblower lawsuit against eight of the nation's largest banks, making it the largest reported settlement ever under the Illinois False Claims Act. Constantine Cannon originally filed the action in 2014 and since then has built up the Edelweiss legal team with multiple firms across the...

KBR - Procurement Fraud/Defense ($108.75 million)

Constantine Cannon represented two whistleblowers in a False Claims Act case alleging defense contractor KBR Services overcharged the government in procuring supplies for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In July 2023, KBR agreed to pay $108.75 million to settle the matter, which amounted to the largest settlement involving Iraq War fraud ever. Our clients received a whistleblower award of $31.5 million. Read more -- Houston Chronicle, PR Newswire, CC.

Tagged in: Contract Non-Compliance, Defense Contract Fraud, FCA Federal, Government Procurement Fraud, Whistleblower Rewards,

Hyundai/Kia – Auto Safety ($210 million)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in a submission under the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act, alleging critical engine defects in millions of Hyundai/Kia vehicles. In November 2020, Hyundai/Kia agreed to pay combined penalties of up to $210 million, the largest such penalties ever assessed against a carmaker. And in November 2021, our client received a whistleblower award of $24.3 million, the largest award ever made under the auto safety whistleblower program. Read more -- Reuters, NPR, CNN, NHTSA, CC.

Tagged in: Auto Safety, International Whistleblowers, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,

Sutter Health – Healthcare Fraud/Medicare Advantage ($90 million)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in a False Claims Act case alleging Sutter Health and its affiliates inflated the number and severity of Medicare Advantage patient diagnoses, manipulated patient records, ignored audit red flags, and engaged in other misconduct to increase patient risk scores and obtain Medicare Advantage payments to which they were not entitled. In August 2021, Sutter agreed to pay $90 million to settle the matter, the largest Medicare Advantage False Claims Act settlement to date against a hospital system, and at the time, the second largest reported Medicare Advantage fraud settlement ever. Our client received a whistleblower award of roughly $22 million. Read more -- AP, Reuters, SF Chronicle, DOJ, PR Newswire, CC.

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Hospital Fraud, Managed Care, Provider Fraud, Risk Adjustment Fraud, Upcoding,

ITG - Securities Fraud violations (Multi-Millions)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in a submission under the SEC Whistleblower Program relating to brokerage firm ITG's alleged violations of the firm’s dark pool, POSIT. In May 2021, the SEC awarded our client 30% of the government's recovery, the maximum amount allowed under the program. Read more -- CC

Tagged in: Financial and Investment Fraud, Financial Institution Fraud, Misrepresentations, Regulatory Violations, SEC Whistleblower Reward Program, Securities Fraud,

Centric Parts - Customs Fraud ($8 million)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in a False Claims Act case alleging auto parts distributor Centric Parts misclassified brake pads imported from Asia to avoid millions of dollars of customs duties. In July 2020, the company agreed to pay $8 million to settle the matter. Our client (along with a second whistleblower) received a whistleblower award of 18.5% of the government's recovery. Read more -- DOJ, CC.

Tagged in: Customs Fraud, FCA Federal, Government Programs Fraud, Multiple Whistleblowers and First-to-File, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,

VNSNY - Healthcare Fraud/Home Health ($57 million)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in a False Claims Act case alleging Visiting Nurse Service of New York, the largest not-for-profit home health agency in the country, failed to provide its patients all the critical nursing and therapy visits and services their doctors prescribed under the patient Plans of Care. In June 2020, VNSNY agreed to pay $57 million to settle the matter. It is the first reported False Claims Act settlement involving allegations of a home health agency failing to follow patient Plans of Care. It also is the largest non-kickback False Claims Act settlement ever against a home health company and the second largest settlement of any home health fraud case. Our client received a whistleblower award of roughly $16.5 million. Read more -- Politico, Modern Healthcare, Crains, CC.

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Home Health and Hospice, Lack of Medical Necessity, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,

Cell Phone Carriers - Procurement Fraud ($138.7 million)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in a series of state False Claims Act cases alleging the four major wireless carriers -- AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile -- overcharged the government by failing to provide services at the lowest cost available as required in their government contracts. In September 2020, the carriers agreed to collectively pay $138.7 million to settle the matter, one of the largest state False Claims Act settlements ever. Our client received a whistleblower award of roughly $55 million. Read more -- LA Times, CBS, PR Newswire, CC.

Tagged in: Contract Non-Compliance, FCA State, Government Procurement Fraud, Pricing Fraud, Whistleblower Eligibility, Whistleblower Rewards,

Group Health Cooperative - Healthcare Fraud/Medicare Advantage ($6.375 million)

Constantine Cannon represented a whistleblower in a False Claims Act case alleging Group Health Cooperative (now a subsidiary of Kaiser Permanente) submitted false or inaccurate Medicare Advantage patient diagnosis codes to inflate the reimbursement it received under the Medicare Part C program. In November 2020, the company agreed to pay $6.375 million to settle the matter. Our client received a whistleblower award of 25% of the government's recovery. Read more -- NPR, Seattle Times, DOJ, CC.

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Healthcare Fraud, Managed Care, Medical Billing Fraud, Medicare, Risk Adjustment Fraud, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,

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WB Group Successes