Whistleblower Case

August 11, 2017

West Palm Beach-based government contractor Academy Medical, LLC and its owners, Edward D. Desser and Daniel M. Shaw, agreed to pay $335,000 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by improperly usurping federal contracting opportunities reserved for certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  The whistleblower will receive an award of $67,000 from the proceeds of the government's recovery.  DOJ (NDNY)

August 10, 2017

Virginia Beach-based contractor ADS Inc. and its subsidiaries agreed to pay $16 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by conspiring with and causing purported small businesses to submit false claims for payment in connection with fraudulently obtained small business contracts.  The settlement further resolves allegations that ADS engaged in improper bid rigging relating to certain of the fraudulently obtained contracts.  The settlement ranks as one of the largest recoveries involving alleged fraud in connection with small business contracting eligibility.  The purported small businesses affiliated with ADS include Mythics Inc., London Bridge Trading Co. Ltd., and MJL Enterprises LLC, which falsely claimed to be an eligible service-disabled veteran-owned company, and SEK Solutions LLC and Karda Systems LLC, both of which falsely claimed to qualify as socially or economically disadvantaged businesses under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by Ameliorate Partners LLP.  It will receive a whistleblower award of roughly $2.9 million.  DOJ

August 8, 2017

PHH Corp., PHH Mortgage Corp. and PHH Home Loans agreed to pay roughly $75 million to resolve charges they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting mortgage loans insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA), guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) that did not meet applicable requirements.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by former PHH employee Mary Bozzelli.  She will receive a whistleblower award of roughly $9 million from the proceeds of the government's recovery.  DOJ

August 3, 2017

The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Inc. (d/b/a The Medical Center, Navicent Health) agreed to pay roughly $2.6 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by submitting bills for ambulance transports that were either inflated or medically unnecessary.  The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act by former Navicent paramedic Andre Valentine.  He will receive a yet-to-be-determined whistleblower award from the proceeds of the government's recovery.  DOJ (MDGA)