Top Ten Environmental Fraud Settlements for 2020

In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic uprooted our routines and put life on pause in 2020. But environmental fraud continued unabated, and so did enforcement actions against the perpetrators. We saw two major enforcement actions relating to devices designed to evade emissions requirements, several enforcement actions relating to water contamination and the knowing sale of products containing harmful pollutants, and several more against companies who took advantage of environmental tax...

2020 Whistleblower of the Year Goes to... Rebekah Jones

The results are in and Constantine Cannon's 2020 Whistleblower of the Year award goes to Rebekah Jones.  She is the former data scientist for the Florida Department of Health who was fired for what she claims was her refusal to manipulate COVID-19 tracking data to support a political push to reopen Florida after less than a month of quarantine.  Later on, she went to create her own website to provide...

The Antitrust Week In Review

Here are some of the developments in antitrust news this past week that we found interesting and are following. Biden adds Big Tech critic Tim Wu to his economic staff.  President Joe Biden on Friday rounded out his White House staff with a top adviser who has advocated for breaking up Big Tech companies along with a host of new appointments focused on COVID-19, criminal justice and the U.S. economy....

Honoring Women Who Have Become Whistleblowers

March is Women’s History Month in countries including the United States and the United Kingdom, and March 8th is celebrated as International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is both a celebration of the many achievements of women, and a day to call for action to accelerate women’s equality.  In this spirit, the whistleblower attorneys at Constantine Cannon would like to honor the unique contributions made by the many women who...

DOJ Previews False Claims Act Enforcement Priorities for 2021

The False Claims Act is the federal government's primary enforcement tool to combat fraud against the public.  Every year the government recovers billions of dollars under the statute, primarily with the help of whistleblowers.  Under the so-called qui tam provisions of the act, whistleblowers are authorized to act as private attorneys general and bring lawsuits on behalf of the government and recover a portion of the proceeds. Last year was...

Payments News Update – March 4, 2021

Legal and Regulatory Developments SPOTLIGHT: UK Launches Antitrust Probe Into Apple CNN Business – March 4, 2021 The United Kingdom's competition watchdog has launched an investigation into Apple (AAPL) after app developers complained that they're being forced to use the company's payment systems and distribute their products via its App Store. The Competition and Markets Authority said Thursday that it will examine whether Apple is making developers agree to "unfair...

Second Annual Constantine Cannon Law School Essay Writing Contest on the Importance of Whistleblowers

It has been a difficult year for all of us on so many different levels.  But it also has been a time of hope and inspiration drawn from so many who have been thrust into the front lines, risking their own wellbeing for the care and safety of others.  Of course, among this cadre of courageous souls are all those who refused to stand by quietly in the face of...

POGO Reveals Possible “Unholy Alliance” Between ADS, Inc. and the Pentagon

As small businesses throughout the United States struggle to survive the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, one company claiming to be a small business but with hundreds of employees and more than $3 billion in annual sales, as well as a long history of fraud allegations and settlements, continues to reap huge rewards from government contracts.  The company—Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc. (ADS)—is the focus of an investigative report...

Payments News Update – February 18, 2021

Legal and Regulatory Developments SPOTLIGHT: Feds Probing American Express' Business, Consumer Card Sales Practices The Hill – February 12, 2021 American Express disclosed on Friday that several federal agencies are probing its sales practices for its small business credit cards and consumer cards. The company said in a regulatory filing that it received a grand jury subpoena in January from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New...

Payments News Update – February 11, 2021

Legal and Regulatory Developments SPOTLIGHT: Big Banks, Big Tech Face off Over Swipe Fees American Banker – February 7, 2021 The fees generated from consumers’ debit card spending have long been a source of acrimony between big banks and retailers. But now the banks have a new adversary: Apple, PayPal and other fresh competitors from the tech industry. In recent months, banking heavyweights have sought to persuade the Federal Reserve...