November 1, 2019

A New York-based painting contractor has agreed to pay $3 million to settle a suit alleging it misrepresented compliance with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) rules in connection with two federally funded construction projects.  The False Claims Act violations involved Ahern Painting Contractors Co., which was contractually required to hire DBE subcontractors to perform renovation work on the Brooklyn Bridge and Queens Plaza.  However, Ahern hired a non-DBE, Spectrum Painting Corp., and repeatedly submitted false statements to the government that represented the work was done by a real DBE, Tower Maintenance Corp.  USAO SDNY

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Government Programs Fraud,