‘Qui Tam Whistleblower’ Category
June 3, 2014 June 3, 2014 — Pasco, Florida dentist Miranda Smith has been criminally charged with alleged Medicaid fraud in connection with her practice at Smiles and Giggles Dentistry. The fraud allegedly amounted to more than $140,000. Fraudulent Medicaid filings by unscrupulous dental providers injure taxpayers, who bear the cost, and patients, who sometimes receive poor care. Under the False Claims...
May 30, 2014 May 30, 2014 — Swisspartners Investment Network AG, an asset management firm in Switzerland, and three of its wholly-owned subsidiaries have consented to pay $4. 4 million to resolve the United States’ investigation of the Swisspartners’ Group’s possible role in U.S. taxpayers’ tax fraud. From the settlement, $3. 5 million will be forfeited to the United States — the amount that the...
May 29, 2014 May 29, 2014 — The U. S. government has intervened in a qui tam lawsuit filed by two whistleblowers against Stevens-Henager College, Inc. and The Center for Excellence in Higher Education, which owns the college. Stevens-Henager runs a chain of for-profit colleges in Utah and Idaho. The tipsters — former Stevens-Henager employees — allege that the college was involved in education...
May 28, 2014 May 28, 2014 — A group of medical providers in Jacksonville, Florida has settled False Claims Act allegations for $2.5 million. The allegations against Baptist Health System Inc. (Baptist Health) came to light in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Verchetta Wells, a former employee. Under the qui tam provisions of Act, Wells will receive $424,155 from the recovery.
Baptist Health Neurologists...
May 27, 2014 May 27, 2014 — Investors rely on their investment firm advisors to manage their assets in a responsible and ethical manner. To ensure that they do, advisors registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are subject to the “Custody Rule” of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Those who do not comply with the Custody Rule should be reported to the financial fraud whistleblower...
May 23, 2014 May 23, 2014 — It is a crime for investment advisory firms to defraud customers who trust them with their retirement savings. To fight illegal investment fraud, the U.S. Congress established a whistleblower program as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Tipsters who notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when an employer is engaged in SEC and...
May 22, 2014 May 22, 2014 — The nation’s Medicare program exists to help people who need it. Medicare fraud by unethical pharmacies and other health care providers only drives up health care costs for everyone. The government depends on whistleblowers to come forward about Medicare fraud by filing a False Claims Act lawsuit. The Act’s qui tam language gives insiders a way to do the right thing and be...
May 21, 2014 May 21, 2014 — The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is critical to assist the global business market in achieving a level playing field that allows honest competition to thrive. To discourage unscrupulous corporations willing to bribe foreign government officials as a way to court business, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 established a...
May 20, 2014 May 20, 2014 — The Texas Medicaid program is still recovering from the millions of dollars it has lost due to alleged dental Medicaid fraud. Fraudulent filings by Texas dental providers hurt taxpayers, who foot the bill, and patients, who sometimes receive shoddy treatment. Under the False Claims Act, dental clinic workers are encouraged to bring a whistleblower lawsuit on the government’s...
May 19, 2014 May 19, 2014 — Dental Medicaid fraud places a horrible drain on the federal coffers. Many inside employees at dental clinics may be aware of fraudulent billing practices, but they may not realize that they have the power to stop billing fraud schemes against the government. When whistleblowers bring a lawsuit under the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act, they may receive a...
