A pharmaceutical company is currently appealing a record USD1.6 billion judgment in the US, arguing that a key part of the US False Claims Act (FCA) is unconstitutional. This case, now before the Court of Appeals for the...more
The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act allow individuals to file suit on behalf of the United States and to receive a share of the resulting financial settlement or judgment. Filing a qui tam case is not just a formal...more
In 2024, federal courts issued a number of important decisions in False Claims Act (FCA) cases that are particularly noteworthy for the health care and life sciences industries. We focus here on decisions that further develop...more
A recent federal court decision has the potential to significantly impact the future of False Claims Act (FCA) lawsuits initiated by whistleblowers and to upend the FCA. In United States of America ex rel. Clarissa Zafirov v....more
Years from now, might we cite a recent Middle District of Florida decision as the beginning of the end of the False Claim Act’s (FCA) qui tam provision in its current form? In granting the defendants’ motion for judgment on...more
A federal judge in Florida issued a ruling this week holding that the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA) are unconstitutional. In the lawsuit, a relator named Clarissa Zafirov accused the defendants of violating...more
On September 30, 2024, in U.S. ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates LLC, Judge Kathryn Mizelle in the Middle District of Florida dismissed a qui tam action under the False Claims Act (“FCA”) on the basis that the...more
In this post, we summarize noteworthy False Claims Act (FCA) decisions from the second quarter of 2023. U.S. Supreme Court Decisions. The second quarter was particularly noteworthy because the Supreme Court decided two...more
Summer 2023- Whistleblower Watch is a comprehensive source for all False Claims Act (FCA) news and information. Every quarter, Cozen O’Connor will provide in-house counsel and compliance professionals with a summary of the...more
On Friday, June 16, 2023, I (sort of) lost my bet that the Supreme Court would follow the path charted in Borzilleri v. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, 24 F.4th 32 (1st Cir. 2022) to determine the government’s False Claims...more
United States ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources, Inc. (S. Ct. June 16, 2023) - The vast majority of False Claims Act cases are initiated by private parties, known as relators, not the government. In fact,...more
Last Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) handed down an important ruling that will give healthcare organizations and practitioners relief against meritless whistleblower lawsuits. The ruling could result in saving...more
On June 16, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued an 8-1 decision in the case of United States, ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources, Inc., which held that the Department of Justice (DOJ) can move to dismiss...more
On Friday, June 16, 2023, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS or the Court) upheld prior decisions by the trial court and Third Circuit in U.S. ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources, Inc. Polansky involves the...more
WHAT: On June 16, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8–1 that the Government has broad authority to intervene and dismiss False Claims Act (FCA) suits litigated by relators. U.S. ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources...more
The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision written by Justice Kagan, held on June 16 that the United States (“Government”), having initially chosen not to intervene in a False Claims Act (“FCA”) qui tam case, but having...more
It should come as no surprise to constitutionalists, practitioners under the Federal False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§3729–3733) (FCA), and auditors of the oral argument in the case that the Supreme Court has held that the...more
The United States Supreme Court recently agreed to hear a case interpreting the False Claims Act (“FCA”) that may affect the government’s involvement in pending and future matters. To resolve a circuit split, the Court will...more