false claims act News

New York Sues Sotheby’s for Helping Client Escape Sales Taxes on Artwork

Sotheby’s was sued on Friday by New York’s attorney general, who accused the auction house of defrauding the state by helping an important client avoid millions of dollars of sales taxes on art he purchased. Attorney General Letitia James said …

Louisiana Hospital Owners, Operators to Settle Whistleblower Case for $530K

A whistleblower claim brought a $530,000 settlement from a Louisiana hospital. A news release from U.S. Attorney David Joseph says the claim targeted owners and operators of University Health Hospital in Shreveport. The statement says Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest …

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Bid to Reinstate Trinity Guardrail Fraud Judgment

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away a whistleblower’s bid to revive a $663.4 million judgment against Trinity Industries Inc. in a lawsuit accusing the company of failing to tell a federal agency about changes made to a guardrail …

Justice Department Seeks Dismissals of ‘Meritless’ Whistleblower Suits

The U.S. Justice Department has issued a memo that lawyers say could result in fewer whistleblowers being allowed to pursue lawsuits on the agency’s behalf against companies accused of defrauding the government. The Jan. 10 memo, reviewed by Reuters, advised …

Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Trying to Sell Sealed Whistleblower Lawsuits

A former partner at a major law firm in Washington pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges that he tried to sell copies of sealed whistleblower lawsuits against corporations that he obtained while working at the U.S. Justice Department. Jeffrey Wertkin, …

Court Revives Whistleblower Claim Against Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Co. faces a new legal worry after a federal appeals court last Thursday revived a whistleblower lawsuit by two former employees who said they were fired for trying to report misconduct by lenders that the bank later …

Whistleblower Loses Out on $864M Moody’s Ratings Settlement

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit by a former Moody’s Investors Service managing director and said he deserves none of the $863.8 million that Moody’s agreed to pay to settle claims it inflated mortgage ratings prior to …

Lance Armstrong Loses Bid to Stop $100M Federal lawsuit

A federal judge has refused to block the government’s $100 million lawsuit against Lance Armstrong, putting the former cyclist on course for trial in a 2010 case stemming from his performance-enhancing drug use. The lawsuit was filed by Armstrong’s former …

Baxter to Pay $18M Over Mold at North Carolina Plant

Baxter International has agreed to pay $18 million to resolve its criminal and civil liability over claims its unit ignored mold in air filters at a plant where sterile intravenous solutions were made, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday. …

False Claims Settlements in 2016 Top $4.7 Billion: Justice Department

The Department of Justice obtained more than $4.7 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims against the government in fiscal year 2016. This is the third highest annual recovery in False Claims Act history, …