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The Whistleblower & Anti-Fraud Blog

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Johnson & Johnson Subsidiary Pays $9.75M to Settle Qui Tam Whistleblower Lawsuit over Alleged Kickbacks

A medical device sales representative who filed the False Claims Act lawsuit received a $1.37 million whistleblower award. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) orthopedics and neurosurgery medical device unit DePuy Synthes has agreed to pay $9.75 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by providing illegal kickbacks to…

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Public College and Former Professor Pay $575K to Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit over Misuse of Federal Grant Funding for Vacations, Bonuses, Outside Research

A postdoctoral research staff member discovered the fraud and filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. New York City public university Hunter College and the former director of its HIV studies center have agreed to pay a combined $575,000 to settle allegations they…

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Samsung Unit Pays $1M to Resolve False Claims Act Whistleblower Lawsuit over Alleged Customs Fraud

Samsung C&T America allegedly declared incorrect HTS tariff classifications on its customs entry documents. A U.S. unit of the South Korean conglomerate Samsung (KSE: KRX:028260.KS) has agreed to pay $1 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly misclassifying imports to evade customs duties. According to…

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Government Contractor NortonLifelock Found Liable for Defrauding the GSA, Ordered to Pay $1.7M, in False Claims Act Lawsuit

The technology firm was found to have knowingly included false pricing, rebate, and discount information in disclosures to become a GSA Schedule contractor. NortonLifeLock (Nasdaq: GEN) has been ordered by a federal court to pay $1.7 million in damages for defrauding the U.S. General Services Administration and the State of…

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Vitamin Manufacturer Pays $22.8M to Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit over Evaded Customs Duties

International Vitamin Corp. allegedly violated the False Claims Act by misclassifying imports from China as “duty free.” International Vitamin Corp., a producer of store-brand vitamins and supplements, has agreed to pay $22.8 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly evading customs duties on imports from…

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Laser Technology Firm Settles Allegations It Violated the False Claims Act by Improperly Using Foreign Subcontractors on Federally Funded Research Projects

The hiring of the subcontractors by Vescent Photonics allegedly violated conditions on the use of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant funding. Laser manufacturer and military contractor Vescent Photonics Inc. has agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act…

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Apparel Wholesaler Pays $1.3M to Resolve Allegations it Undervalued Imports to Evade Customs Duties

High Life LLC allegedly reported phony “first sale” prices on import declarations filed with CBP. New York apparel wholesaler High Life LLC has paid the U.S. government $1.3 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by underdeclaring the value of its imports. According to the U.S. Department…

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Ophthalmologist Pays $1.85M to Settle Allegations She Violated the False Claims Act by Fraudulently Billing Medicare for Unperformed, Medically Unnecessary Procedures

The fraud was discovered by a medical office manager who filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. A Georgia ophthalmologist has agreed to pay $1.85 million to settle allegations she violated the False Claims Act by fraudulently billing Medicare for medically unnecessary cataract…

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Academy Mortgage Pays $38.5M to Resolve Whistleblower Allegations it Violated the False Claims Act by Falsely Certifying Compliance with FHA-HUD Underwriting Requirements

The fraud was exposed by a former Academy underwriter.  She received a qui tam whistleblower award of $11.5M. Utah-based Academy Mortgage has paid $38.5 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying its compliance with underwriting requirements for federally insured mortgages. The fraud was exposed by a…

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Court Awards Whistleblowers $500K in Attorney’s Fees following False Claims Act Lawsuit relating to Defense Contractor’s Alleged Illegal use of Chinese-Sourced Materials in Tank Munitions

Contractor previously paid $5.6 million to resolve allegations it improperly sourced tungsten cubes from China instead of the United States for high-explosive tank rounds sold to Israel. A federal appeals court has affirmed an award of almost $500,000 in attorney’s fees and expenses to co-whistleblowers who filed a qui tam…