Whistleblower News from the Inside - June 30, 2015

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

VMWare and Carahsoft agree to pay $75.5m to settle whistleblower case – The settlement will resolve allegations that the companies violated the False Claims Act by misrepresenting their commercial pricing practices and overcharging the government on VMware software products and related services.  DOJ

VA whistleblowers urge Obama to fire inspector general – A group of whistleblowers from Veterans Affairs facilities across the country is calling for the replacement of interim VA Inspector General Richard Griffin, arguing in a letter to President Obama that the VA’s chief watchdog is “unable to fulfill the responsibilities and duties” of the job.  USA Today

Former owner of Ezcor Medical Supply sentenced for Medicare fraud – The former owner of durable medical equipment company Ezcor Medical Supply was sentenced to serve 97 months in prison for her role in a fraud scheme that resulted in $3.5 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal for equipment that was not medically necessary.  DOJ

GCs, audit committees have important role when it comes to whistleblower hotlines – The EY Center for Board Matters has released a new report, “Whistleblower Hotlines and the Role of the Audit Committee,” which provides recommendations on ensuring internal whistleblower hotlines are effective.  Inside Counsel

F.B.I. opens corruption investigation into NY prison – The FBI has opened a corruption inquiry focusing on employees and inmates at the maximum-security prison in northern New York State where two convicted killers escaped this month.  NYT