July 13, 2016

A Kentucky federal court entered a civil judgment of roughly $4.5 million against Vesta Brue and her medical device companies LifeTechniques, Inc. and Care Team Solutions LLC for violating the False Claims Act by making false statements that allowed them to receive millions of dollars in federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  According to the settlement agreement, NIH awarded Brue and her companies five Small Business Innovation Research grants, worth millions of dollars, to support the development of electronic pillboxes customized for specific patient populations, including HIV and pediatric patients.  But Brue and her companies acknowledged that Brue spent the grant money on personal expenses, such as plastic surgery, jewelry, home renovations, and massages, among other expenses.  She also used grant money on business expenses not allowed under the grant regulations, such as costs associated with marketing and promoting her businesses.  DOJ (EDKY)

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Grant and Research Fraud, Medical Devices and DME,