Earlier this year, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma granted Washington state’s motion to intervene to transfer venue to the Western District of Washington in James Siegel, M.D. v. Novo Nordisk, Inc. Relator Dr. Siegel originally filed suit in Oklahoma on February 2, 2015, alleging violations of the Federal False Claims
CIPA: An Old Statute Provides a New Frontier for Serial Filing Plaintiffs Against Retailers with Online Chat Services
Introduction
If you have ever telephoned a customer support hotline to be greeted with an explanation that “this call may be monitored for quality assurance,” you are familiar with the implications of various state laws governing the recording of telephone conversations. Most states have cold-war era wiretapping laws, with some states providing for two-party consent,
Disruptive Technology Strike Force Initiates Federal Prosecutions Targeting Trade Secret Theft
In early 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Commerce launched the Disruptive Technology Strike Force to target illicit actors, strengthen supply chains and protect critical technology assets from theft by nation-state adversaries.
Read on to learn about recent federal prosecutions initiated by the Strike Force, targeting theft of trade secrets and
Supreme Court Rules that District Courts Must Stay Proceedings Pending Interlocutory Appeals of Denials of Motions to Compel Arbitration
On June 23, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Coinbase, Inc. v. Bielski, No. 22-105, 2023 WL 4138983 (U.S. June 23, 2023), that will provide further protection for parties seeking arbitration. The issue presented to the Court was whether a district court must stay its proceedings while an interlocutory appeal on the question
Three McGuireWoods Partners Named ‘Influencers in Retail’ by ALM’s GlobeSt.
GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, an American Lawyer Media publication, has selected McGuireWoods partners Greg Riegle, Chris Thanner and John Visconsi as 2023 Globe St. Influencers in Retail Real Estate. The honorees, all members of the firm’s Real Estate & Land Use Department, were profiled in a May 1, 2023, story.
Temporary Allies: Opposing Parties Successfully Sue VA for FCA-related Discovery
A Kansas federal court recently ruled against the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in litigation arising out of a discovery dispute brought by the relator and defendant in a separate, pending FCA action. See Schroeder v. United States Department of Veterans Affairs, No. 22-2209-DCC-KGG, 2023 WL 3478052 (D. Kan.). This relatively unique case
Supreme Court Clarifies the False Claims Act’s Knowledge Requirement, Eliminating a Potential Defense for Government Contractors and Healthcare Providers Accused of Fraud
On June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of whistleblower plaintiffs (referred to as “relators”) in consolidated False Claims Act (“FCA”) cases in a decision that clarified the application of the FCA’s knowledge requirement. In United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc., the Court held that the FCA reaches defendants who
New York Pharmacy Owners Indicted for Alleged Healthcare Fraud Scheme
On May 2, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of two New York state pharmacy owners for their participation in an alleged $29 million healthcare fraud scheme. They face charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to pay illegal healthcare kickbacks and bribes.
Read on for
Seventh Circuit Upholds Decision In Favor of Insured Party Seeking Coverage for False Claims Act Settlement
On May 3, 2023, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit sided with the policyholder, resolving a large insurance coverage dispute relating to a $100 million settlement involving claims under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the federal False Claims Act. Astellas US Holding, Inc. v. Fed. Ins. Co., No. 21-3075, 2023 WL 3221737
7th Circuit Sides With Insured Party Seeking Coverage for False Claims Act Settlement
On May 3, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the policyholder, resolving an insurance coverage dispute over a $100 million settlement related to claims under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the federal False Claims Act.
Read on for analysis of this decision, which tries to clarify the difference between compensatory damages, which