Senior DOJ Official Michael Granston Discusses COVID Relief Enforcement, Granston Memo, and other FCA Issues -
Michael Granston, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ Civil Division, sat down this week with Jody...more
3/29/2021
/ Conflicts of Interest ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraudulent Procurement ,
Kickbacks ,
Manufacturers ,
Medical Devices ,
OIG ,
Private Equity Funds ,
Relief Measures ,
The Granston Memo ,
Turkey ,
USAID
Individual Prosecutions Down But Corporate Resolutions Steady for DOJ’s Fraud Section in 2020, with More in the Pipeline -
The Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) Fraud Section recently released a year-in-review report that...more
3/8/2021
/ Bribery ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deferred Prosecution Agreements ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Executive Orders ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Final Rules ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Opioid ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Supreme Court Declines to Review Issue of “Objective Falsity” Under False Claims Act -
On February 22, 2021, the United States Supreme Court denied petitions for certiorari in a case that could have addressed the issue of...more
3/1/2021
/ Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Hospice ,
Investment Fraud ,
Objective Falsity ,
Qui Tam ,
SCOTUS ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Whistleblowers
Despite Decrease in 2020 False Claims Act Recoveries, Investigations and Litigation Expected to Rise Under the Biden Administration -
As previously detailed by Arent Fox, total False Claims Act (FCA) recoveries for the...more
2/1/2021
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Biden Administration ,
CARES Act ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Investigations ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Recovery Plans ,
Settlement Agreements ,
TRICARE
DOJ’s 2020 False Claims Act Recoveries Lowest Since 2008 -
On January 14, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it obtained more than $2.2 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving...more
1/25/2021
/ Bribery ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Fraud ,
IRS ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Devices ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Qui Tam ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
Settlement ,
Whistleblowers ,
Wire Fraud
New York Pharmacy Owners Charged in $30 Million COVID-19 Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Case -
On December 21, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that two owners of over a dozen New York-area...more
1/11/2021
/ California ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Genetic Testing ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Identity Theft ,
Medicare ,
Money Laundering ,
New York ,
Pharmacies ,
Pharmacist ,
State Attorneys General ,
Tennessee ,
Wire Fraud
False Claims Act Legal Developments -
First Circuit Upholds Whistleblower Retaliation Verdict -
On December 9, 2020, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held as a matter of first impression that “the...more
12/21/2020
/ Anti-Corruption ,
Appeals ,
Bribery ,
Conspiracies ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Money Laundering ,
Qui Tam ,
Retaliation ,
Title VII ,
Venezuela ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies ,
Whistleblowers
HHS Announces Formation of FCA Working Group -
On December 4, 2020, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it is creating a False Claims Act Working Group to enhance the partnership between...more
12/14/2020
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Integrity Policies ,
Medicare ,
OIG ,
Proposed Rules ,
SCOTUS ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Stark Law ,
Value-Based Care ,
Working Groups
Seven Individuals Charged in $16 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme -
In an indictment unsealed on November 17, seven individuals were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud for allegedly submitting at...more
House Committee Chairs Direct White House and Federal Agencies to Preserve Documents during Transition Period to the Biden Administration -
On November 10, 2020, Committee Chairs from the House of Representatives sent...more
Mortgage Company to Pay $24.9 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations -
On October 28, 2020, the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) announced that Guild Mortgage Company (“Guild”), a California-based...more
11/2/2020
/ Anti-Bribery ,
Books & Records ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Fair Housing Act (FHA) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
HUD ,
India ,
Internal Controls ,
Maryland ,
Money Laundering ,
Russia ,
Settlement ,
Wire Fraud
Department of Justice Announces $8.3 Billion Settlement with Opioid Manufacturer Purdue Pharma and Members of the Sackler Family -
On October 21, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it reached a global resolution...more
10/26/2020
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
DEA ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Fraud ,
Health Care Providers ,
Opioid ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Purdue Pharma ,
Securities Act of 1933 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Substance Abuse
DOJ Announces Charges Against 345 Defendants in Historic Nationwide Health Care Fraud and Opioid Takedown -
The DOJ announced a nationwide enforcement action charging 345 defendants across 51 federal districts with...more
10/5/2020
/ Anti-Dumping Agreement ,
Bribery ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Countervailing Duties ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Economic Injury Disaster Loans ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Loan Applications ,
Medicare ,
Nonprofits ,
Opioid ,
Pharmacies ,
Physicians ,
SBA ,
Settlement ,
Substance Abuse ,
Telecommunications ,
Telemedicine ,
Wire Fraud
Engineering Firm Settles $37 Million False Claims Act Allegations -
As part of a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice, QuantaDyn Corporation has agreed to pay $37,757,713.91 in restitution to resolve...more
9/21/2020
/ Bribery ,
Criminal Conspiracy ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 (EKRA) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Investment Fraud ,
Jury Trial ,
Kickbacks ,
National Institute of Health (NIH) ,
Patient Referrals ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Wire Fraud
Acute Care Hospital Agrees to Pay $50 Million to Settle Alleged Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute Violations -
On September 9, 2020, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced that Wheeling Hospital Inc. (“Wheeling...more
9/14/2020
/ Anti-Kickback Statute ,
California ,
Campaign Contributions ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Fair Market Value ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Qui Tam ,
Risk Assessment ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Stark Law ,
TRICARE ,
Wire Fraud
Third Circuit Holds that False Claims Act First-to-File Bar is Not Jurisdictional -
On September 1, 2020, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that the False Claims Act (FCA) first-to-file bar, 31 U.S.C. §...more
9/8/2020
/ Anti-Bribery ,
Appeals ,
Appellate Courts ,
Burden of Proof ,
Civil Forfeiture ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Embezzlement ,
Extradition ,
Failure To State A Claim ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
First-to-File ,
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Lobbying ,
Settlement Agreements
DOJ Issues First FCPA Advisory Opinion Since 2014 -
On August 14, the DOJ issued its first advisory opinion on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in six years. The DOJ’s opinion release process allows companies to...more
Drug Testing Lab Pays Nearly $12 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations -
On July 20, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a civil settlement with Sterling Healthcare Opco, LLC d/b/a Cordant Health...more
7/27/2020
/ Anti-Fraud Provisions ,
Anti-Kickback Statute ,
Corporate Integrity Agreement ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Drug Testing ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Inspector General ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
TRICARE
COVID Relief Program Fraud Charges -
DOJ continues to announce charges against defendants accused of fraud in connection with allegedly false loan applications submitted under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)...more
7/20/2020
/ Bank Fraud ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
False Statements ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
Loan Applications ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
SBA ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Tax Returns ,
TRICARE ,
Wire Fraud
DOJ Announces $72.3 Million False Claims Act Settlement -
Oklahoma Center for Orthopaedic and Multi-Specialty Surgery, its part-owner and management company, a physician group, and other affiliated entities and...more
7/13/2020
/ Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Genetic Testing ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
Qui Tam ,
Settlement ,
stark ,
TRICARE ,
Whistleblowers
SBA and Department of Treasury Announce Disclosure of PPP Recipients -
After weeks of mounting public and congressional pressure, on Friday, June 19, the SBA and Department of Treasury announced that it will make...more
6/26/2020
/ Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Disclosure ,
Financial Institutions ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Fraud ,
Kickbacks ,
NAICS ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
SBA ,
TRICARE ,
U.S. Treasury ,
Wire Fraud
Medical Technology Company President Charged in $69 Million COVID-19 Testing Fraud Scheme -
A complaint in the Northern District of California was unsealed on June 9, 2020, charging the president of Arrayit Corporation, a...more
6/15/2020
/ Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
General Services Administration (GSA) ,
Kickbacks ,
Medicare ,
Pharmacies ,
Probation ,
Securities Fraud ,
South Korea ,
TRICARE ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Virus Testing ,
Wire Fraud
Contractors to Pay Over $2.8 Million to Settle Small Business Contract Fraud Allegations -
On June 2, 2020, the Department of Justice announced that Ross Group Construction Corporation and its affiliates agreed to pay...more
6/5/2020
/ Blockchain ,
California ,
Compliance ,
Contractors ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Initial Coin Offering (ICOs) ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
SBA ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Settlement ,
Small Business ,
USDA
Foreign National Charged With Fraudulently Applying for $20 Million in COVID-19 Loans -
On May 21, 2020, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced the arrest of a foreign national for...more
DOJ Obtains Restraining Order to Stop Oklahoma Company From Selling Purported COVID-19 Treatment -
An Oklahoma federal court issued a temporary restraining order against Xephyr LLC d/b/a N-Ergetics and its owners ordering...more