Qui Tam

DOJ enlists help from Congress to fight healthcare fraud

Posted on October 30, 2009
The DOJ's Assistant Attorney General Tony West realizes that healthcare fraud is a serious issue that can't be fought alone.  Since 2009, he has led DOJ's Civil Division and is requesting help from Congress to combat healthcare fraud. We applaud Assistant Attorney General Tony West for his efforts in admitting that the DOJ needs help...

Pfizer agrees to pay $2.3 billion to settle qui tam and criminal charges

Posted on September 03, 2009
Pfizer Inc has agreed to pay a record settlement of $2.3 billion to resolve a qui tam case and to settle federal and criminal probes. According to the DOJ and several published reports, this involves the alleged Medicare/Medicaid fraud, and the illegal use off-label marketing of multiple drugs...

Whistleblower and former UBS Banker sentenced to 40 months in prison for role in tax scam

Posted on August 26, 2009
Former UBS Banker, Bradley C. Birkenfeld was recently sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison for assisting a client at UBS to evade taxes. However, due to Mr. Birkenfield's assistance, the government was successful in reaching the February settlement of UBS agreeing to pay $780 million in fines, penalties, and restitution relating to tax fraud...

Sotomayor confirmed for Supreme Court by Senate

Posted on August 07, 2009
  Yesterday, the Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to become our Nation's first Hispanic  U.S. Supreme Court Justice. The Senate vote was approved, 68-31, primarily with Democrats and some Republicans voting in favor of the confirmation...

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Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 moves through Senate.

Posted on July 30, 2009
  The Senate's progress and the bi-partisan efforts of Democrats and Republicans to strengthen the protections for whistleblowers should be applauded. Groups such as the Make It Safe Coalition, POGO, ACLU and many others complimented  the efforts of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee...

From the Courtroom Podcast Interview with Robert M. Morgenthau on Judge Sonia Sotomayor

Posted on July 30, 2009
In this edition of our Podcast Series "From the Courtroom", Esther Uria LaBovick, Esq. has the pleasure of speaking with New York District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau. The honorable Robert M. Morgenthau discusses Judge Sonia Sotomayor, her Senate confirmation hearings, and her life as a Prosecutor in the New York District Attorney's Office...

S. 372 - Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 - show your support for federal employees

Posted on July 28, 2009
On Wednesday, July 29, 2009, the Senate will be marking up its version of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 (S. 372). We encourage you to contact your Senators and President Obama and ask them to support adding jury trials for all federal employees, including national security employees...

New York State and NYC sets record for qui tam settlement of $540 million

Posted on July 22, 2009
Everyone knows there is no place like New York and New York City. However, this does not mean that New York and NYC can defraud the government.  The Department of Justice announced today that a settlement was reached by New York and NYC to pay a record sum in the amount of $540 million to settle allegations for knowingly submitting, or causing to be submitted, false claims for reimbursement for school-based health care services, primarily speech therapy and transportation, provided to Medicaid eligible children from 1990 to 2001...

Beazer Homes settles False Claims Act violations for Mortgage Fraud

Posted on July 03, 2009
The Atlanta based home builder, Beazer Homes USA Inc. settled a qui tam suit involving mortgage fraud with Federally insured mortgages. Beazer Homes USA has agreed to pay $50,000,0000 to the United States to be shared with victimized private homeowners, to resolve the False Claims Act allegations...

United States Settles False Claims Act violations against Beazer Homes USA

Posted on July 03, 2009
The Atlanta based home builder, Beazer Homes USA Inc. settled a qui tam suit involving mortgage fraud with Federally insured mortgages. Beazer Homes USA has agreed to pay $50,000,0000  to the United States to be shared with victimized private homeowners, to resolve allegation...

Supreme Court will hear Qui tam lawsuit over public disclosure

Posted on June 23, 2009
The whistleblower case, Graham County Soil & Water Conservation District v. United States ex rel. Wilson, 08-304 was granted certiorari by the Supreme Court. This case has special implications for the business community, especially  whistleblower lawsuits against drugmakers, and biotechnology companies...

Kindred Health settles qui tam suit for $1.3 million

Posted on June 16, 2009
Today, a qui tam suit that was brought against Kindred Healthcare, Inc. was settled for just over $1.3 million.  United States Attorney Russ Dedrick announced today that Kindred Healthcare, Inc. and its successor PharMerica Healthcare Pharmacy, LLC, have agreed to settle claims that Kindred violated state and federal laws regarding over-billing TennCare and the Medicaid program for pharmaceuticals...

US Files qui tam suit against Capmark Finance in California

Posted on June 14, 2009
Capmark Finance Inc., a California-based mortgage lender, is the target of a qui tam suit filed by the Department of Justice. In this suit, the Justice Department alleges that the company has committed mortgage fraud and is seeking reparations under the False Claims Act...

Qui tam suit against Healthways settled for $40,000,000

Posted on June 12, 2009
Another successful case in the win column for whistleblowers (relators) bringing qui tam suits, In this most recent instance, whistleblower, Steve Pogue, and his legal team can breathe a sigh of relief, because the litigation against Healthways that took 15 years has finally settled for $40,000,000...

Whistleblower Protection Act hearing taking place today

Posted on June 11, 2009
Today there is an important hearing on the  Whistleblower Protection Act being held in Washington, D.C. at 2:30pm (EST).  If you can't attend the hearing, please make an effort to call Senators Daniel Akaka (202) 224-6361 and Susan Collins (202) 224-2523, indicating your support of Whistleblower protection for all...

Federal Government Joins 16 States in Wyeth Whistleblower Lawsuit

Posted on June 09, 2009
New Jersey-based Wyeth, one of the nation's largest drug manufacturing companies recently had two qui tam lawsuits filed against them in federal court in Massachusetts. Pharma giant,  Wyeth - poised to be bought out by large pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Inc...

Supreme Court rules on appeal time limits for qui tam cases

Posted on June 08, 2009
Today, Justice Thomas delivered the opinion in the much anticipated case United States,  ex rel. Irwin Eisenstein, Petitioner, v. City of New York, et, al..  Unfortunately, the opinion, was a fatal blow for the Relator, Irwin Eisenstein, since the lower court's decision was affirmed that there is only a 30 day time limit for appeal on qui tam cases where the government decides not to intervene...

Earth Day 2009 - Doing your part in the work place

Posted on April 22, 2009
Today is Earth Day, celebrated in the United States officially, since 1970. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. Earth Day is about being environmentally friendly. This includes includes work, home and play. Since our Readers are mostly reading the WhistleBlower Law Blog from work, we are sharing a  few Simple Steps that can be implemented in the work place...

Congressman Bruce Braley discusses whistleblower legislation with Brian LaBovick

Posted on April 14, 2009
Managing Partner, Brian LaBovick, Esq., discusses whistleblower legislation with Congressman Bruce Braley in the Podcast series, "From the Courtroom". whistleblower.labovick.com/uploads/file/Podcast WhistleBlower_leg_Congressman_Bruce Braley _final cut...

Defense contractor, Northrop Grumman pays $325 million to settle qui tam suit

Posted on April 07, 2009
Defense Contractor Northrop Grumman Corp., has agreed to settle False Claims Act allegations for $325 million, according to the Department of Justice. Allegedly, Northrop provided and billed the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) for defective microelectronic parts, known as Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs)...

Press Conference Today - re: whistleblower protections Bill

Posted on March 12, 2009
I am thankful for the valiant fight of Congressman, Bruce Braley, (D) Iowa First District, and other members of congress regarding whistleblower protections for workers.  We had the distinct pleasure of speaking with the Congressman regarding this important piece of legislation, that is being proposed today for a stand alone bill...

EMC comes under fire from DOJ in Qui tam suit

Posted on March 03, 2009

Chairman rejects nominee to board with Medicare fraud ties

Posted on February 10, 2009
Yesterday, the Chairman of Orthofix International, issued a strong statement about  a nominee for Orthofix Board, Steven J. Lee. In an open letter, Chairman, James F. Gero, outlined a long history of Mr. Lee's former company's unsavory history with qui tam litigation...

Construction Firm Mercer-Fraser settles qui tam lawsuit for $1.3 million

Posted on February 05, 2009
Midsized construction firm, Mercer-Fraser agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle fraud allegations involving work under the U.S. Small Business Administration's HUBZone Empowerment Contracting program. According to the claim, Mercer- Fraser used false information to gain business...

GAP : Whistleblower Rights and the Stimulus Package

Posted on January 28, 2009
Good news is possibly in store for Whistleblowers if the Government Accountability Project office gets its way.  The organization came  with a brilliant idea of tying Whistleblower Protections to the Stimulus Bill that is in the forefront of everyone's mind in Washington, to help promote whistleblower rights...

Eli Lilly agrees to pay $1.4 Billion in Qui tam fraud involving Zyprexa

Posted on January 26, 2009
Whistleblowers have a lot to celebrate in the wake of the recent $1.4 billion settlement from drug maker,  Eli Lilly. The drug giant, Eli Lilly, plead guilty to promoting its drug Zyprexa for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)...

Show your Support for the National Whistleblower Law

Posted on January 23, 2009
Positive Steps are being made in the fight for a national whistleblower law.   The National Whistleblower Center is enlisting the help from every individual that believes we should have a national whistleblower law...

Health System settles Qui tam suit for $1.9 million

Posted on November 26, 2008
Whistleblower Anthony Kite has $1.9 million reasons to be happy this Thanksgiving. The Pennsylvania based, St. Vincent Health System settled a qui tam case pay $1.9 million to the federal government to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged the hospital submitted reimbursement claims to Medicare that greatly exceeded actual costs...

Whistle-Blower Protection in Bailout Legislation

Posted on September 25, 2008
Yesterday, Joe Davidson, wrote a great article Groups Seek Whistle-Blower Protection in Bailout Legislation for the Washington Post summing up how important it is for Whistleblower Protection to be considered in this bailout legislation. A letter from 40 organizations was sent to several Senate Committees urging members to include key whistleblower protection in the bailout legislation...

Virginia firm settles Qui tam litigation for $225 Million

Posted on August 21, 2008
Virginia based Amerigroup settles Qui tam suit for $225 million for allegedly systematically avoiding to enroll pregnant women and unhealthy patients in their Medicaid managed-care program in Illinois, which served low-income people. The company will also pay $9 million in legal fees to the United States and the State of Illinois and will not admit any wrong doing...

Whistleblowers Safety protection signed into law

Posted on August 14, 2008
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act has been signed into law by President Bush.  This bill covers whistleblower rights for over 20 million employees that are involved in the consumer the sale, manufacture and distribution of consumer goods...

DOJ backlog and Ex DOJ Honors applicant makes waves

Posted on July 03, 2008
I came across an interesting post this morning, from R. Enochs, Esq, Attorney blogger and editor of the blog for news junkies.... I might fit that bill, being that I am always tuned in and online reading any and all newsworthy information that I stumble upon...

Washington Post article on qui tam case backlog for the DOJ sparks frenzy

Posted on July 02, 2008
Today, Washington Post writer, Carrie Johnson put qui tam front and center in the minds of everyone around the country, with her newsworthy and in-depth front page article "A Backlog Of Cases Alleging Fraud- Whistle-Blower Suits Languish at Justice" in the Washington Post today...

Dental company pays $729,000 to settle Federal and State False Claims Act Allegations

Posted on July 01, 2008
InterDent, Inc., InterDent Service Corporation and Dedicated Dental Systems Corporation have paid the United States and the State of California approximately $729,000  to settle allegations that they submitted false claims for orthodontic care to Medi-Cal’s dental program, which is called Denti-Cal...

Miami men charged in $110 Million Medicare False Claims Scheme uncovered by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force

Posted on June 14, 2008
Four Miami men have been charged in $110 Million Medicare False Claims Scheme that was uncovered by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. According to the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Carlos and Luis Benitez, Jose Benitez and Thomas McKenzie were all allegedly involved in the Medicare Fraud...

Support Action to Protect Whistleblowers - your help is needed

Posted on June 12, 2008
Dear Readers,Your help is requested today in an effort to take action in protecting whistleblowers. I received an email today from the organization Project for Government Oversight, and want to share this important  information with our loyal readers of the Whistleblower Law Blog...

Supreme Court requires Whistleblowers to show there was intent to defraud the government

Posted on June 09, 2008
In a recent Supreme Court decision today, in the qui tam suit, Allison Engine Co. v. US ex. Rel Saunders,  Supreme Court Justice Alito writes in his opinion that  "it is not enough under §3729(a)(3) for a plaintiff to show that the alleged conspirators agreed upon a fraud scheme that had the effect of causing a private entity to make payments using money obtained from the Government...

Walgreen's Pharmacy settles $35 Million Qui tam case

Posted on June 09, 2008
The Illinois based Walgreen's Pharmacy has agreed to settle a qui tam case for $35 Million that involves drug switching of the following drugs: Ranitidine (or Zantac), which inhibits stomach acid production; Fluoxetine (or Prozac), an antidepressant; and Eldepryl, known generically as selegiline, which is used with other medications to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease...

Florida Hospital pays over $7 million to settle False Claims Act violations due to doctor referrals

Posted on May 16, 2008
The Baptist Health South Florida Inc., will pay the United States $7,775,000 to settle False Claims Act and the Stark Statute violations that allegedly occurred between 2003 and 2005. According to the Department of Justice this probe involved Baptist Health South Florida,  over compensating an oncology group for patient referrals to Baptist's hospitals...

Spinmeisters try to smear th new False Claims Act Correction 2008

Posted on May 15, 2008
I want to laugh when people buy into corporate propaganda. Don't you just love people who believe in a "trickle down" theory will actually trickle down to them. I also laugh when the oil companies cry that OPEC is charging too much and Exxon posts multi-Billion dollar profits...

Spinmeisters try to smear the new False Claims Act Correction 2008

Posted on May 15, 2008
I want to laugh when people buy into corporate propaganda. Don't you just love people who believe in a "trickle down" theory will actually trickle down to them. I also laugh when the oil companies cry that OPEC is charging too much and Exxon posts multi-Billion dollar profits...

Blog Carnival Review and Whistleblower Week

Posted on May 11, 2008
This week, The Whistleblower Law Blog is delighted to host the Blog Carnival for Blawg Review. It is befitting that we host the Blog Carnival this week, which happens to be Whistleblower Week 2008.  Throughought the week of May 11-18, 2008,  independent whistleblower coalitions, such as the  International Association of Whistleblowers (IAW), the Make it Safe Campaign, and many other independent whistleblower coalitions, will hold a series of simultaneous but separate events in Washington, D...

Blawg Review #159

Posted on May 11, 2008
This week, The Whistleblower Law Blog is delighted to host Blawg Review #159, the blog carnival for everyone interested in law. During the week of May 11-18, 2008,  independent whistleblower coalitions, such as the  International Association of Whistleblowers (IAW), the Make it Safe Campaign, and many other independent whistleblower coalitions, will hold a series of simultaneous but separate events in Washington, D...

Senate Committee votes for False Claims Act Amendments, S. 2041

Posted on May 06, 2008
S. 2041, has received support from leadership in both parties and has moved out of the Senate Committe. Leading the charge is:  Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Senator Richard Durbin D-IL), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)...

Whistleblower Law Blog Hosts Blawg Carnival May 12

Posted on May 06, 2008
Next week, the Whistleblower Law Blog will host the Blawg Review Carnival on our site. If you are interested in legal news, you know that Blawg Review is the blog carnival for everyone that follows legal news. It is a peer-reviewed blog carnival, where the host of each Blawg Review decides which of the submissions and recommended posts are suitable for inclusion in the presentation...

Touro Infirmary settles Qui Tam suit for $1.75 Million

Posted on April 24, 2008
A New Orleans Hospital, Touro Infirmary, recently settled a qui tam suit for $1.75 million. According to the Department of Justice, the suit alleged that Touro Infirmary, submitted false claims to the Medicare program.Involved in the Medicare scheme with the New Orleans Hospital, was Dr...

Florida doctor settles Medicare qui tam suit for $7 million

Posted on April 15, 2008
Medicare fraud can happen anywhere and can be detected by the most least suspecting individual in a company.  Recently, Fred Steinberg, M.D, a radiologist and owner of the chain, of  University MRI and Diagnostic Imaging Centers, located in Florida settled a qui tam suit for $7 million...

ABA holds annual Qui tam and Civil False Claims Act Seminar

Posted on April 14, 2008
The annual ABA Seminar on Civil False Claims Act and Qui Tam Enforcement will be held in Washington, D.C.  June 11-13, 2008.  Since, the civil False Claims Act is a growing area of federal litigation, particularly because of its unique qui tam enforcement, the conference will have experts from all areas – healthcare, defense, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, accounting and consulting, construction, higher education and grant recipients – in which qui tam lawsuits under the FCA have been filed...

CVS Caremark Corp. settles Medicaid fraud allegations for $36.7 Million

Posted on March 19, 2008
In a remarkable turn of events, America's self proclaimed largest pharmacy, CVS Caremark, has agreed to settle Medicaid fraud allegations for $36.7 million. According to information obtained from a whistleblower and extensive research, the company allegedly switched the tablet version of the drug  Ranitidine (generic Zantac) to a more expensive capsule version...

Florida-based AccuLab settles Medicare false claims allegations for $461,000

Posted on March 18, 2008
Florida based, Acculab Laboratories has agreed to settle a qui tam suit alleging false claims and fraudulent billing to Medicare. The company has agreed to pay the United States $461,000 according to the Justice Department. The allegations surrounding the Sarasota based company included included billing Medicare for laboratory services that were not ordered, were not provided, were not medically necessary or were improperly unbundled...

Whistleblower Law Blog Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Posted on March 10, 2008
We are pleased to announce that our Whistleblower Law Blog celebrates its one year anniversary. It seems like we started blogging, yesterday.In addition to states creating and strengthening state qui tam/false claims acts around the country, the world of legal blogging has exploded...

Defense counsel presents interesting arguments on New Jersey's False Claims Act

Posted on March 07, 2008
This week, Defense Counsel, Mark S. Olinsky of Sills Cummis & Gross P.C., wrote an article for the Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, titled "Defending Qui Tam Suits Under New Jersey's New False Claims". One may find it strange for a Plaintiff's firm to highlight an article written by a Defense firm...

Regional Hospital accused of Medicare fraud by U.S. Attorney

Posted on February 28, 2008
South Carolina Regional Hospital, Tuomey Regional Medical Center, is accused of Medicare and Medicaid  fraud in a qui tam lawsuit, brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Carolina.  According to a recent article on State.com, the suit involves the Regional Hospital overcharging Medicare for surgeries and “bribing” doctors with “kickbacks” for their business...

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reform bill (S.2045) needs help with Whistleblower protection

Posted on February 20, 2008
The National Whistleblower Center requests your help in sending a message to your Representative re: The Consumer Product Safety Commission reform bill (S.2045) Whistleblower protections. The CPSC reform bill (S.2045) needs to provide vital protections for honest employees who report safety violations--such as toxins in toothpaste and poisonous lead in our children's toys...

Louisiana introduces False Claims Act and qui tam bill in Extraordinary Session

Posted on February 13, 2008
This week the Louisiana Legislature along with Governor Bobby Jindal, launched an "Extraordinary Session". In a bi-partisan effort, the legislators joined together to introduce  and strengthen key legislation that combats government fraud in their state...

Senator Grassley joins in the filing of a whistleblower tax fraud briefs to the Supreme Court

Posted on January 23, 2008
On January 19, Senator Charles Grassley filed an Amicus Curiae ("friend of the court") brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Allison Engine Co., Inc. v. United States ex rel. Sanders. The Sanders case will have far-reaching impact on the viability of America's most important whistleblower protection law: The False Claims Act...

New Jersey Governor signs Whistleblower Law

Posted on January 18, 2008
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed the new bill into law this week. New Jersey is among 20 states that have passed a state False Claims Act with qui tam whistleblower provisions similar to the Federal False Claims Act. The Whistleblower Law Blog reported in early January, the passing of the New Jersey False Claims Act, Bill S232, by the Senate...

Illinois ushers in enhanced Whistleblower Protection Act Jan. 1 2008

Posted on January 18, 2008
Illinois has strengthened their whistleblower protection laws as of January 1, 2008. The Illinois legislators expanded existing whistle-blower laws and increased the protections and rewards earned by people reporting fraud.  According to Lt...

Limo service company settles False Claims Act Case for $65,000

Posted on January 15, 2008
In an unusual turn of events, a Massachusetts based  Limo company agreed to pay $65,000 to settle a qui tam case for improperly paying tolls. According to an article in Worcester Telegram & Gazette's telegram.com, the Limo company, allegedly made drivers use personal toll transponders linked to Boston addresses to pay 40-cent resident discount tolls to avoid the $4...

New Jersey False Claims Act approved by the Senate

Posted on January 14, 2008
New Jersey has joined in the fight against qui tam and Medicaid fraud against the government in New Jersey.  Thanks to the efforts of Senators John H. Adler and Joseph F. Vitale Co-Sponsors of S232, the New Jersey False Claims Act was approved by the Senate in a vote of of 37-0...

Kickback scheme costs Health South $14.2 Million to settle Health Care Fraud Claims

Posted on December 31, 2007
HealthSouth Corporation agrees to pay $14.2 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the government and paid illegal kickbacks to physicians who referred patients for care in some of its hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers, according to reports from the Justice Department...

Blawg Reviewer - E Commerce Law - Spreads Holiday Cheer

Posted on December 29, 2007
Johnathan Friedman, author of E-Commerce Law Blog and Host of the Carnival for Blawg Review #140 did an excellent job, spreading holiday cheer.  I came across his Blawg Review, while checking on our date to be the host of the Blawg Review Round Up/ Carnival next year...

Unsealed qui tam complaint against Pfizer is pressing forward

Posted on December 29, 2007
The qui tam complaint against Pfizer, USA rel. Polansky v. Pfizer is pressing forward according to court documents filed by the Plaintiff's legal counsel, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro. To view the complaint, click here. (Warning, the document is pretty lengthy, 97 pages, but worth every moment spent reading...

St. Josephs Hospital settles Whistleblower Suit for $26 Million

Posted on December 28, 2007
Thanks to a brave nurse for uncovering what she saw as fraudulent Medicare billing practices, the government will receive $26 million from Saint Josephs Hospital of Atlanta and Saint Josephs Medical System to resolve the "whistleblower" lawsuit that alleges the hospital violated the federal False Claims Act in regards to Medicare billing practices...

Informants are helping the IRS catch fraudsters

Posted on December 26, 2007
The New IRS announcement released on December 19, 2007 details procedures of the IRS Informant Award program for information regarding underpayment of taxes. Since  December 2006, the IRS has received about 80 claims, half of those submitted in just the last two and a half months...

Whistleblower takes his case to the Web

Posted on December 21, 2007
A Whistleblower took his case public and to the Web after initially being ignored. A recent article by General Counsel entitled, Employee's YouTube Video Sounds Ethics Alarm.  The article talks about how a former Lockheed Martin Engineer felt something was wrong with his company's ship shipbuilding project for the U...

Attorney Professional courtesy

Posted on December 21, 2007
This week I read an interesting post from a fellow legal blogger at Blawgletter re: California Supreme Court Upholds Professional Duties: DQ Awaits Cheaters. The post was about a case Rico v. Mitsubishi Motors Corp.,, No. 123808 (Cal. Dec. 13, 2007)...

Senate Passes Whistleblower Reforms

Posted on December 18, 2007
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate, with a unanimous vote, passed the Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act (S.274). This new law enhances the protection for federal employee whistleblowers. Passage of S.274 now sets the stage for a conference between the House and Senate to agree final legislative language...

Alligator takes bite out of fraud

Posted on December 11, 2007
Dear Blog Readers,I write this blog with absolute reverence. What I am about to share is a biblical tale of the Lord's retribution against the evil fraudsters in our midst.  In modern society we often see the hand of the Lord as a simple act of coincidence or an explained scientific event or better yet, a scientific anomaly...

How Qui tam helps fight Medicaid Fraud - an article by Brian F. LaBovick is published by Thomson West

Posted on December 04, 2007
"How Qui tam helps fight Medicaid Fraud" - an article written by Brian F. LaBovick, Esq. was recently published  by Thomson West in the Volume 13, Issue 5 /November 2007 edition of the Andrews Litigation Reporter on Health Care Fraud...

Stryker Corp and Physiotheray Associates pay $16 million to settle qui tam claims

Posted on November 15, 2007
Stryker Corp and Physiotherapy Associates have agreed to pay $16 million to settle qui tam allegations on submitting false claims to Medicare and other Federal health programs, according to the Department of Justice. Stryker Corp sold its outpatient therapy division, Physiotherapy Associates in June 2007...

Shedding light on attorney contingency fees

Posted on November 12, 2007
I just love hindsight. In hindsight, everything is so clear. Things that look tenuous on the front end are no risk easy “layups” in the rear view mirror. You may wonder what I am talking about. I am talking about one of my favorite subjects, the right to Attorney’s fees, which is how I support my family and provide food, shelter and education for my children...

Whistleblower is accused of masterminding fraudulent scheme

Posted on November 08, 2007
One whistleblower and his lawyers are fighting for a $2.8 million share of a $10.5 million quitam settlement by Cell Therapeutics. According to the government, James Marchese, the whistleblower, was the "initiator or planner of the fraudulent scheme, according to Barry Meir's article in the New York Times...

Compliance department and Quitam

Posted on November 06, 2007
The Pharma Compliance Blog, author Brian O'Rourke, makes interesting observations in his post "Removing the Silos, taking a holistic to compliance. Altruistic as it may sound, this is too significant for companies to ignore.  Should Marketing and Operations share information, should internal groups discuss best practices?  If a company is to be successful yes...

FL Based Managed Care Firm comes under the microscope in False Claims Probe

Posted on November 06, 2007
Florida based  WellCare, a provider of government-sponsored health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, recently learned of a quitam action launched by a former employee. The matter is currently under seal, while the government is investigating the nature of the quitam claim...