Two Former Senior Department of Justice Prosecutors Join Tycko & Zavareei LLP to Enhance Whistleblower Practice

11/30/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog, Newsletters.

Renée Brooker and Eva Gunasekera, former prosecutors in senior leadership positions at the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Fraud Section (DOJ), have joined boutique law firm Tycko & Zavareei LLP (https://www.tzlegal.com/) as Partners, and will represent whistleblowers in Qui Tam litigation under the False Claims Act and whistleblower-reward programs of the SEC, CFTC, and IRS. The combination […]

Two Large U.S. Government Contractors Reach a $57.75 Million Settlement to Resolve Fraudulent Time Charging Claims

11/12/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

Two U.S. government contractors, Bechtel National Inc., Bechtel Corporation (Bechtel) and AECOM Energy & Construction, Inc. (AECOM), along with subsidiary Waste Treatment Completion Company, LLC (WTCC), have agreed to pay $57.75 million to resolve fraud allegations for overcharging the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for unallowable idle time charges for workers on the Hanford nuclear […]

U.S. Government Announces One of Its Largest Customs Fraud Settlements

10/06/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

The Department of Justice last week announced a $22.8 million settlement involving customs duty fraud—one of the largest False Claims Act settlements involving customs duties to date. A former company employee reported the alleged violations against German multinational chemical and gas company, Linde AG, and its American subsidiary, Linde Engineering North America, Inc. (collectively, “Linde”). […]

Scripps Research Institute Pays $10 Million To Settle Allegations Related to Improper Charges to NIH-Sponsored Research Grants

09/23/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), located in Florida and California, agreed to pay $10 Million to resolve claims that it improperly charged NIH-funded research grants for time spent on non-research related activities. The non-related activities included developing, preparing, and writing new grant applications, teaching, and engaging in other administrative activities. The settlement resolves allegations that […]

Biotech Testing Company to Pay $49 Million to Settle Allegations for Fraudulent Billing and Kickback Practices

08/28/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

PROGENITY, INC. (“PROGENITY”), a San Diego-based biotechnology company that provides molecular and diagnostic tests agreed to a $49 million settlement for fraudulent billing and kickback practices. The settlement resolves claims that the biotechnology company fraudulently billed federal healthcare programs for prenatal tests and provided kickbacks to physicians to persuade them to order PROGENITY tests for […]

Whistleblowers Share $8 Million False Claims Act Settlement of Unpaid Import Duties Allegations

08/18/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

Whistleblowers Share $8 Million False Claims Act Settlement of Unpaid Import Duties Allegations Two whistleblowers receive $1.48 million as part of a recent settlement to resolve False Claims Act allegations between a vehicle parts supplier and the government. The False Claims Act allows private parties to sue on behalf of the U.S. government and receive […]

Blowing the Whistle On Healthcare Industry Kickback Schemes Often Results In Huge Awards To Whistleblowers. Here’s Why.

07/22/20 Written by Jonathan Tycko // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that a major pharmaceutical company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, agreed to pay $642 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that Novartis violated the False Claims Act (FCA). That lawsuit was initially filed by a whistleblower under the “qui tam” provision of the FCA, which allows a private citizen to […]

Construction Contractor Pays $1 Million to Settle Fraud Allegations Relating to a Federal Program Designed to Help Disadvantaged Businesses

07/09/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

Williams Brothers Construction Inc. (WBCI) from Peoria Heights, Illinois, agreed to pay $1 million to settle claims that the company violated the False Claims Act by misrepresenting themselves as a smaller, disadvantaged business to obtain program grants for a federally-funded construction contract. The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division, […]

Nursing Home’s Rehabilitative Services Chain Settles False Claims Allegations for Ten Million Dollars

06/29/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

Saber Healthcare Group, LLC and other entities have agreed to pay the U.S. government a settlement of $10 million to resolve alleged “false claims to Medicare for rehabilitation therapy services that were not reasonable, necessary, or skilled,” the Justice Department reported. Saber Healthcare offered patients multiple levels of Rehabilitation Therapy. The highest level of prescribed […]

New York Compounding Pharmacy Settles Fraudulent Billing and Kickback Allegations in Whistleblower Lawsuit

06/12/20 Written by Fraud Fighters // Blog // Government Programs Fraud.

Upstate New York pharmaceutical companies FPR Specialty Pharmacy (now defunct) and Mead Square Pharmacy, along with their owners, agreed to pay $426,000 to settle fraudulent claims and kickback allegations brought forth by a whistleblower. According to the U.S. government, the pharmacies submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement to federal healthcare programs for compounded prescription drugs in […]

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