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State Enforcement Actions

					
Each state enforces its laws and defends its interests, and states often work with the federal government in investigating and prosecuting corporate frauds.  Whistleblowers with knowledge of fraud or wrongful conduct that involves state or local funds or programs may be able to bring a claim under a state or local False Claims Act, and may be eligible to receive a monetary reward and protection against retaliation.


Below are summaries of recent settlements, successful prosecutions, and enforcement actions by states. If you believe you have information about fraud which could give rise to a claim under a State or Local False Claims Act or other whistleblower reward provision, please contact us to speak with one of our experienced whistleblower attorneys.

				

			

			
						
					
			

	
		
		

			

				
				
September 12, 2022

				 Two cigarette companies, Canada-based Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd., and its wholesaler, New York-based Native Wholesale Supply Company, Inc., have agreed to pay $50 million and follow corrective measures to resolve charges of evading New York state taxes.  According to the AG, Grand River—which manufactures Couture, Opal, and Seneca cigarettes—knew that its distributor, Native Wholesale, was not licensed to distribute or sell cigarettes in the state, and thus their cigarettes would not be taxed or stamped in accordance with state law, making their prices artificially lower and more accessible to young consumers.  NY AG				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Tax Fraud, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
September 6, 2022

				 JUUL Labs has settled with thirty-four states and territories and agreed to pay $438.5 million and abide by strict injunctive terms in order to resolve an investigation into its marketing and sales practices.  The investigation had revealed that JUUL willfully targeted underage users, relied on age verification techniques it knew were ineffective, manipulated the chemical composition of its products to be less harsh for inexperienced users, and implied that its products contained lower concentrations of nicotine than it actually did.  DE AG; GA AG; OR AG; VA AG				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Misrepresentations, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
August 24, 2022

				 Centene will pay Washington State $19 million to resolve allegations that the company overcharged the state for pharmacy benefit management services.  The state alleged that Centene failed to pass on discounts it received to the state Medicaid program, and inflated dispensing fees.  WA				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Drug and DME Pricing, 
													  Healthcare Fraud, 
													  Medicaid, 
													  Pharma Fraud, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
August 24, 2022

				 James R. Lee and entities affiliated with him – Lee Oil Company, Inc., Whitesville Producing Corporation, Whitesville Production Corp., Allegro Oil & Gas Inc., and Allegro Investments Corporation – have been ordered to pay a penalty of $2 million for their failures to follow environmental laws with respect to over 400 oil wells they operated in western New York State.  The court found numerous violations, including defendants’ failures to plug over 400 wells and their failures to file required reports.  NY				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Environmental Fraud, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
August 23, 2022

				 Essilor International and related subsidiaries, which manufacture, market, and distribute optical lenses and equipment to produce optical lenses—have agreed to pay $22 million to resolve federal and state allegations of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid.  In two separate qui tam suits, former sales managers Laura Thompson and Lisa Brez, and Christie Rudolph alleged that Essilor violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act by paying illegal kickbacks to optometrists and opthalmologists to induce purchases of their products for patients, including patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid.  $5.6 million of the total settlement was allocated between states that were parties to the settlements, and $16.4 million to the federal government. DOJ; USAO EDPA; USAO NDTX; CO; CT; SD (see later CA settlement)				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Anti-Kickback and Stark, 
													  FCA Federal, 
													  FCA State, 
													  Healthcare Fraud, 
													  Medicaid, 
													  Medical Devices and DME, 
													  Medicare, 
													  Whistleblower Case, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
August 18, 2022

				 The organized healthcare system for Ventura County, as well as three healthcare providers, have agreed to pay a combined total of $70.7 million to resolve allegations of violating the California and federal False Claims Acts in connection with Medi-Cal’s Adult Expansion program, which extended coverage to previously uninsured adults without dependents.  Gold Coast Health Plan, Dignity Health, Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc., and Ventura County (the owner and operator of Ventura County Medical Center) allegedly submitted, or caused to be submitted, bills for unallowed expenses, bills for “Additional Services” that were duplicative of services already required, and bills with pre-determined costs that weren’t reflective of fair market value.  CA AG; USAO CDCA				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  FCA Federal, 
													  FCA State, 
													  Healthcare Fraud, 
													  Medicaid, 
													  Medical Billing Fraud, 
													  Provider Fraud, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
July 29, 2022

				 Allergan will pay up to $2.27 billion to settle allegations they deceptively marketed opioids by downplaying the risks of opioid addiction and instead touting exaggerated benefits from the drugs. Rather than encouraging alternative treatments, Allergan encouraged doctors to prescribe more opioids, and failed to maintain effective controls to prevent diversion of opioids. This settlement involves multiple states, excluding New York, which settled separately with Allergan. VA OAG				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Healthcare Fraud, 
													  Off-Label and Unapproved Use, 
													  Pharma Fraud, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
July 27, 2022

				 Trident Mortgage Company entered into a settlement agreement with federal and state agencies to resolve allegations that the non-bank lender intentionally discriminated against minority loan applicants by engaging in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination through “redlining.”  Trident agreed to invest over $20 million to increase credit opportunities in neighborhoods of color in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and pay a $4 million penalty to the CFPB. DOJ; CFPB; PA; NJ; DE				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Financial Institution Fraud, 
													  Housing and Mortgage Fraud, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
July 26, 2022

				 Mallinckrodt ARD, LLC f/k/a Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will pay over $233 million over a 7-year period to settle False Claims Act violations, which occurred from January 2013 through June 2020. During this time, Mallinckrodt knowingly underpaid Medicaid rebates on its H.P. Acthar Gel. The practice was exposed by a whistleblower lawsuit originally filed in Massachusetts. Mallinckrodt paid rebates for Achtar in 2013 as if it was a “new drug” rather than one that was introduced to the market in 1952. NJ OAG				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  FCA Federal, 
													  FCA State, 
													  Healthcare Fraud, 
													  Medicaid, 
													  Pharma Fraud, 
													  Whistleblower Case, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			




	
		
		

			

				
				
July 26, 2022

				 Teva will pay $4.25 billion to resolve allegations that it promoted potent fentanyl products to non-cancer patients, deceptively marketed opioids by downplaying the addiction risks and overstating the drugs’ benefits, and failed to comply with suspicious order monitoring requirements. The final settlement is contingent on agreement on critical business practice changes and transparency requirements. CA AG, PA OAG				 					 

						
Tagged in:
													  Healthcare Fraud, 
													  Pharma Fraud, 
												
						

					
	
							
	
		
		
	


 			


											

						

								

									
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