Have a Claim?

Click here for a confidential contact or call:

1-212-350-2774

Whistleblower News From The Inside -- July 10, 2017

Posted  July 10, 2017

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

Wal-Mart Pays $1.65M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Improper Medi Cal Billings — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has paid $1.65 million to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act when it knowingly submitted claims for reimbursement to California’s Medi‑Cal program that were not supported by applicable diagnosis and documentation requirements, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today. “These Medi-Cal regulations are essential to protect both patients and limited heath care funding,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “My office will continue to hold pharmacies accountable when they fail to comply with regulations like these.” Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, operates over 290 retail stores in California; approximately 283 of these locations have pharmacies. The Medi-Cal program is administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and relies on both federal and state funding to provide health care to millions of Californians, including those with low incomes and disabilities. DOJ

Lance Armstrong Co-Defendants reach $158K Settlement in Federal Case — Lance Armstrong’s longtime agent and business partner have agreed to pay $158,000 to get out of a $100 million federal lawsuit scheduled to go to trial against Armstrong in November. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper signed off on the settlement Wednesday, ordering the dismissal of Bill Stapleton, Armstrong’s longtime agent, and Barton Knaggs, Armstrong’s longtime friend and business partner. The agreement was part of a deal with former cyclist Floyd Landis, who sued them and Armstrong on behalf of the United States government in 2010. Their dismissal clears the deck for Landis and the federal government to go after Armstrong alone in the upcoming trial in Washington, D.C. USA Today

Whistleblowers Could Sway Case Focused on Future of Downtown San Diego — The future shape of San Diego’s skyline and other downtown development is at stake in a lawsuit that could be bolstered next month by information from four whistleblowers. The lawsuit seeks to end what it calls years of shady, backroom deals that it blames on downtown San Diego being the only place in California where a private corporation controls land-use decisions. The suit contends the city is illegally choosing “streamlined” project approvals over transparency and public input by granting that corporation — Civic San Diego — authority that should belong to leaders accountable to taxpayers – the City Council. The suit seeks to require the city to allow most land-use decisions by CivicSD to be appealed to the City Council. The San Diego Union-Tribune