On June 1, 2023, in U.S. ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc., the Supreme Court clarified the state-of-mind (or “scienter”) standard under the False Claims Act (FCA), holding that a defendant’s subjective belief that a claim...more
Summary - On June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in False Claims Act cases. In United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc., it unanimously held that liability under the False Claims Act depends...more
Leaves Window Open for Defense Based on Subjective Belief - On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in a consolidated appeal of two healthcare qui tam cases that removes a very powerful defense from...more
The US Supreme Court brushed aside novel assertions from two pharmacy retailers on June 1 and ruled unanimously that False Claims Act liability hinges on whether defendants subjectively believed their claims were “false.” In...more
The SuperValu case arose from separate lawsuits against two companies that operate retail drug pharmacies across the country: SuperValu Inc. and Safeway, Inc. In each case, a whistleblower – on behalf of the federal...more
A defendant’s knowledge of and subjective beliefs about the meaning of legal requirements—not what an objectively reasonable person may have believed—are what matters when determining whether a defendant “knowingly” submitted...more
For background on this case, please refer to Part I. For updates from the Supreme Court oral arguments on April 18, please refer to Part II. On Thursday, June 1, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in United States et al....more
The Supreme Court recently issued a significant decision clarifying what it means to “knowingly” submit a false claim under the False Claims Act. At issue in United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc. were allegations...more
Supreme Court FCA Scienter Ruling Revives Fraud Lawsuits Against Safeway and SuperValu On Thursday, the US Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated ruling regarding the threshold of liability under the False Claims Act...more
On June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court decided a pair of closely watched False Claims Act (FCA) cases, U.S. ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc., No. 21-1326, and U.S. ex rel. Proctor v. Safeway, Inc., No. 22-111....more
On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion in the highest-profile False Claims Act (FCA) case for many years, concluding that a party’s subjective belief as to whether it overcharged Medicare and...more
Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court held that a False Claims Act (FCA) defendant cannot rely on an objectively reasonable interpretation of a law, regulation, or rule to negate the scienter element of the FCA. In...more
The story of one of the most significant False Claims Act (“FCA”) cases this year began nearly two decades ago. Between 2006 and 2012, SuperValu, Inc.—which operated thousands of pharmacies nationwide—offered a “price match...more
On April 18, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments in a pair of monumental False Claims Act (FCA) cases to decide whether and when a defendant’s subjective understanding of an objectively...more