DOJ Catch of the Week -- Bank of America
Posted 08/22/14
Tagged in: Catch of the Week, FCA Federal, FIRREA, Housing and Mortgage Fraud,
FCA Federal
This archive displays posts tagged as relevant to the federal False Claims Act. You may also be interested in the following pages:
Rose Cancer Center — Medicare Fraud ($5.7 million).
Two of our whistleblower attorneys co-led the representation of Kristi Beeson who reported Medicare fraud violations at her former employer Rose Cancer Center in Mississippi. Ms. Beeson, who was a laboratory technician for the clinic, brought a qui tam action under the False Claims Act against the clinic alleging, among other things, unqualified technicians performing bone marrow biopsies, diluting chemotherapy drugs, and doctoring patient records to conceal the clinic’s fraudulent Medicare billings. The physician who owned and ran the practice, Dr. Meera Sachdeva, plead guilty to various Medicare fraud violations, forfeited $5.7 million, and is now serving a 20 year prison sentence for her crimes. Ms. Beeson, along with three other whistleblowers, collectively received a whistleblower award of $525,000 for their efforts in exposing the fraud. See Clarion Ledger for more.Ocean Carriers — Government Contracting Fraud/Prohibited Charges.
Two of our whistleblower attorneys led the representation of a whistleblower who brought a qui tam action under the False Claims Act against two ocean carriers alleging they included in their government invoices charges specifically disallowed under the government contract. The ocean carriers did not have direct contracts with the government and submitted their invoices to parties who in turn presented them to the Department of Defense. Although the government declined to intervene because of uncertainties created by the lack of direct interaction between the defendants and the United States, our whistleblower lawyers pressed ahead, defeating multiple motions to dismiss and aggressively moving forward with discovery. The action settled with both defendants, and the whistleblower was awarded 28% of the government’s recovery. See Pacific Business News and Ship and Bunker News for more.DOJ Catch of the Week – Vascular Solutions
Posted 08/1/14
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
This week's Department of Justice "catch of the week" goes to Vascular Solutions Inc (VSI). On Monday, the Minneapolis-based medical device maker agreed to pay $520,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by marketing a product for sealing veins without FDA approval. Specifically, the government charged that VSI marketed and sold its "Vari-Lase...
“Modest” Changes, or All-Out Assault on the False Claims Act?
Posted 07/31/14
By Jason Enzler
The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing yesterday with the innocuous title “Oversight of the False Claims Act.” At issue was a set of proposed changes to the law offered by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (“ILR”). According to an ILR representative’s testimony, the amendments would be “modest” and focused on correcting “flaws” and improving the “effectiveness”...
July 28, 2014
Vascular Solutions Inc (VSI), a Minneapolis-based medical device maker, agreed to pay $520,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by marketing a product for sealing veins without FDA approval. Specifically, the government charged that VSI marketed and sold its "Vari-Lase Short Kit" for treating perforator veins (which run deep in the leg muscle) even though the FDA approved the device only for treating surface (or superficial) veins. DeSalle Bui, a former sales representative of VSI, will receive a whistleblower award in an undisclosed amount. DOJDC Circuit In KBR Whistleblower Case Tightens Attorney-Client Shield for Internal Investigations
Posted 07/3/14
By Gordon Schnell
In a shot heard round the business world, a DC district court judge in March denied attorney-client privilege protection to documents prepared in connection with an internal company investigation. The judge found the privilege did not apply because the investigation was mandated by government regulation and not simply an exercise in company discretion. The DC Circuit last week -- in In re: Kellogg...