Tyco — Government Contracting Fraud/Noncompliance with Industry Standards ($60 million).
One of our whistleblower attorneys led the representation of Nora Armenta and dozens of California municipalities in a
qui tam action under the False Claims Act against Tyco International, Mueller Co., and the James Jones Company, alleging they sold waterworks parts to municipal water systems that were made with 40% more lead than allowed by industry standards. According to her complaint, Ms. Armenta repeatedly warned her superiors that the parts were for drinking water, but was ignored. The defendants settled the case, but only after 13 years of litigation, including three successful appeals that reversed unfavorable trial rulings. The defrauded municipalities received
$60 million, and Ms. Armenta received a whistleblower reward of
$15 million.