DOJ Reports Continued Surge in False Claims Act Recoveries Prompted by Whistleblowers

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Yesterday, the Department of Justice reported its recovery of a record $5.69 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments during the 2014 fiscal year (ending September 30). It is the first time DOJ has crossed the $5 billion mark and brings to $22.75 billion the total False Claims Act recoveries DOJ has obtained since January 2009. That 6-year tally represents more than half...

Whistleblower News from the Inside - November 18, 2014

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Caltech physics professors brings whistleblower action against university -- Professor Sandra Troian claims the university retaliated against her for raising concerns that an Israeli spy might be working at a campus-controlled research facility.  Inside Higher Ed Call for US-styled whistleblower awards in Australia -- “No one is suggesting $30 million rewards – but surely no one should end up dramatically worse off as a result of...

False Claims Act Scores Continue to Pile Up

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team It was only two weeks ago when we reported on three major False Claims Act wins with the government taking home more than $90 million in fines and penalties and the whistleblowers getting a $10 million piece of the pie.  See Big Week for Whistleblowers.  Then there was last week’s $175 million pre-trebled jury verdict against guardrail maker Trinity Industries for lacing our highways...

October 24, 2014

Constantine Cannon whistleblower lawyer Gordon Schnell quoted in Modern Healthcare on the $400 million payment by DaVita Healthcare Partners to settle whistleblower charges it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to physicians to induce patient referrals to DaVita's dialysis clinics.

DOJ Catch of the Week -- DaVita

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team This week's Department of Justice "catch of the week" goes to DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., one of the leading providers of dialysis services in the United States.  On Wednesday, the Denver-based company agreed to pay $400 million to resolve claims it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks for patient referrals to its dialysis clinics.  It apparently is the largest ever False Claims...

October 22, 2014

DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., one of the leading providers of dialysis services in the United States, agreed to pay $400 million to resolve claims it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks for patient referrals to its dialysis clinics through its use of a sophisticated three-part joint venture business model to induce patient referrals to its clinics..  David Barbetta, former Senior Financial Analyst for DaVita, will receive an undisclosed whistleblower...

Whistleblower News from the Inside - October 21, 2014

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Guardrail maker loses hundred million dollar whistleblower suit -- A Texas jury finds highway guardrail maker Trinity Industries violated the False Claims Act by defrauding the government with defective guardrail systems.  The jury awarded $175M, to be tripled, in this case originally filed by whistleblower and Trinity competitor Joshua Harman.  NYT In Memoriam: Rick Piltz, Climate Science Champion and Bush-Era Whistleblower -- The Government...

Whistleblower News from the Inside - October 17, 2014

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Whistleblower nurse describes chaos at TX Ebola hospital – A nurse at the hospital said she watched the hospital “violate basic principles of nursing care, of medical care,” saying that materials used to treat suspected Ebola patients were left festering in corridors for days, suspected Ebola patients were wheeled around the hospital without protection, and doctors were told it was acceptable to move patients...

Big Week for Whistleblowers -- Three Major False Claims Act Victories

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team In what has shaped up to be one of the more prolific weeks for whistleblowers, the government has settled three major False Claims Act cases originated by whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the statute. They involved nursing home operator Extendicare Health Services Inc., aerospace and defense industry giant Boeing Company, and drug maker Organon. All together, the government collected more than $90...

Whistleblower News from the Inside - October 14, 2014

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team A Portrait of the Whistleblower as a Young Man -- New documentary provides "unparalleled look at the historic moment when Ed Snowden told the world that Big Brother is watching."  Atlantic Office of Special Counsel comes to rescue of Army whistleblower -- The OSC, which protects federal whistleblowers, persuades the Merit Systems Protection Board to halt the Army's planned termination of a civilian police...