Qui Tam Results

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At the forefront of championing integrity and justice, our dedicated whistleblower attorneys have consistently delivered remarkable results in Qui Tam litigation. This page is a testament to the skill, perseverance, and success of our attorneys, showcasing their significant achievements in representing courageous individuals.

From securing multi-million-dollar settlements to holding corporations accountable for fraudulent practices, our qui tam whistleblower attorneys have not only excelled in representing their clients but have also significantly contributed to the enforcement of federal and state laws. Each qui tam case summary here reflects our unwavering commitment to upholding the law and protecting public interest.

Whistleblower Attorney Achievements in Qui Tam

$4.5 MILLION FOR WHISTLEBLOWER AND GOVERNMENT

Joel M. Androphy and Janis Gorton along with the United States and the State of Texas, have reached a $5 million settlement in a False Claims Act case against Health Services Management, Inc. (HSM) and Huntsville Health Care Center (HHCC) involving billing for poor quality of care and worthless services provided to nursing home patients.

Read This Client’s Testimonial »

$21 MILLION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT

Joel Androphy, David Berg, Sarah Frazier, and Zenobia Bivens won a settlement to end a False Claims Act case brought by whistleblowers alleging fraudulent Medicaid claims and kickbacks to pharmacies that prescribed an antidepressant drug. The settlement between CVS-owned Omnicare and relators was after roughly a decade of litigation over the company’s alleged role in an alleged scheme by drugmaker Organon to pay kickbacks to long-term care pharmacies that prescribed its Remeron antidepressants, purportedly resulting in false claims to Medicaid.

$50 MILLION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT

HOUSTON, Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Joel M. Androphy and Sarah M. Frazier of the Berg & Androphy law firm, along with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and 50 state Medicaid programs plus the District of Columbia and the City of Chicago, have reached settlements in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation against Novo Nordisk and their subsidiaries.

Read This Client’s Testimonial »

WHISTLEBLOWER’S COMPLAINT LEADS BERING STRAITS TECHNICAL SERVICES, L.L.C. AND BERING STRAITS NATIVE CORPORATION TO PAY $2 MILLION TO SETTLE CIVIL FRAUD CHARGES

Bering Straits Technical Services, L.L.C. and Bering Straits Native Corporation have agreed to pay $2 million to settle civil charges involving alleged violations of the False Claims Act. The settlement was finalized April 26, 2016, without an admission of liability.

$240 MM FOR THE WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT IN SETTLEMENT OF DRUG TESTING CLAIMS

Joel Androphy and Sarah Frazier of Berg & Androphy along with Esdaile, Barrett, Jacobs & Mone, represented Ryan Uehling, one of the whistleblowers in a government settlement with Millennium Laboratories, a case that involved multiple qui tam actions in the United States District Court in Massachusetts.

IN A CASE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT INTERVENE

Joel Androphy, David Berg, Sarah Frazier, and Rachel Grier, with Esdaile, Barrett, Jacobs & Mone, won a settlement with drug manufacturer, Organon USA Inc., in two qui tam actions in the United States District Courts in Massachusetts and Texas. Organon agreed to settle allegations that it underpaid rebates to state Medicaid programs for several of its drugs, including Remeron, Remeron SolTab, NuvaRing, Mircette, Cyclessa and Desogen, and that it offered improper financial incentives to nursing home pharmacy companies to induce prescriptions of its drugs, Remeron and Remeron SolTab. The settlement netted the clients and government approximately $31 million.

$1.9 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN WHISTLEBLOWER MILITARY FRAUD CASE

Frazier Masonry Corporation of Camarillo, California and other entities and individuals, agreed to pay nearly $1.9 million to settle civil allegations that they conspired to defraud the United States in connection with military construction projects at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and Camp Pendleton in California.

$2.3 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN WHISTLEBLOWER MEDICAID FRAUD CASE

Children’s Physician Services of South Texas, Driscoll Genetic Services, Center for Genetic Services, and Radiology Associates agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle civil allegations that they engaged in false or fraudulent conduct by double-billing the Texas Medicaid program, TRICARE, and the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program for the professional reading and interpretation of genetic ultrasounds.

$880,000 FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT

Joel Androphy, Sarah Frazier, and Rachel Grier won a settlement with Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Health Care System, and HealthTexas Provider Network (collectively Baylor) in a qui tam action in the United States District Court. Baylor agreed to settle civil charges that they engaged in false or fraudulent conduct by improperly billing federal healthcare programs for robotic stereotactic treatment delivery without corroboration of direct physician supervision and overbilling for services associated with stereotactic procedures without the necessary documentation in the medical record or as duplicative claims for services already performed and paid in conjunction with other services. The settlement netted the clients and government approximately $880,000.

$1.350 BILLION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT

Joel M. Androphy and Sarah Frazier represented one of the nine whistleblowers and won a settlement with Eli Lilly in a civil qui tam action in U.S. District Court. The case involved off-label marketing of the drug Zyprexa. This civil settlement netted the government and all whistleblowers about $750 million. The government will also receive an additional $600 million in criminal fines.

$119 MILLION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT

Joel Androphy won a settlement with King Pharmaceuticals in a qui tam action in United States District Court. The case involved the underpayment of Medicaid rebates, false claims, and best price violations. This settlement netted the client and government about $119 million.

$45 MILLION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT

Joel Androphy won a settlement with Pfizer in a qui tam action in U.S. District Court. The case involved the underpayment of Medicaid rebates, false claims and best price violations for the drug Lipitor. The settlement netted the client and government about $46 million.

For more information see the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, National Law Journal and other major news archives for October 29, 2002.

$13.2 MILLION TO WHISTLEBLOWER AND GOVERNMENT

Joel Androphy, Sarah Frazier and Kathryn Nelson won a settlement with American Grocers in a qui tam action in United States District Court. The case involved the alteration of expiration dates on food products sent to American troops in the Middle East. The settlement netted the client and the government about $13.2 million. Read more about this case.

$1.78 MILLION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS AND GOVERNMENT

Joel Androphy and Sarah Frazier won a settlement with Rotech Healthcare, Inc. in a qui tam action in United States District Court. Rotech paid $2 million to settle civil charges that it engaged in false or fraudulent conduct in billing Medicare for durable medical equipment. The government declined intervention. This settlement netted the client and government about $1.78 million. The negotiated settlement amount was a reflection of Rotech’s stock price of 34 cents per share at the time of settlement, down from $21 in early 2004 when Ms. Bell-Messier filed suit.

FAQs: Understanding Qui Tam Litigation

What is Qui Tam litigation?
- Qui Tam litigation refers to legal actions brought under the False Claims Act (FCA), a federal law that allows private individuals, known as whistleblowers or relators, to sue on behalf of the government in cases where they have knowledge of fraud being committed against federal government programs.
How does Qui Tam litigation work?
- In Qui Tam litigation, a private individual (the whistleblower) files a lawsuit against a person or entity that is allegedly defrauding the government. The qui tam lawsuit is initially filed under seal, meaning it’s kept confidential while the government investigates the whistleblower claim and decides whether to intervene or not. If the government intervenes, it takes over the prosecution of the case; if not, the whistleblower may proceed on their own. If successful, the whistleblower may receive a portion of the recovered funds.
What role does a whistleblower attorney play in Qui Tam cases?
- An attorney representing the qui tam relator (whistleblower) assists the whistleblower in Qui Tam cases. They are responsible for preparing and filing the complaint, guiding the whistleblower through the legal process, and representing their interests in court. These attorneys play a crucial role in ensuring that the whistleblower’s rights are protected and the case is presented effectively.
Are there any risks for whistleblowers in Qui Tam litigation?
- Whistleblowing carries certain risks, including potential retaliation from the employer, such as termination, demotion, or harassment. However, the False Claims Act provides protections for whistleblowers, including legal remedies like reinstatement and compensation for lost wages and legal fees. Whistleblower attorneys help manage these risks and protect their clients’ rights.
How long does a Qui Tam case typically take?
- The duration of Qui Tam cases can vary widely, often depending on the complexity of the case and whether the government chooses to intervene. Some cases may resolve within a few years, while others can take much longer, especially in instances of extensive fraud requiring detailed investigation.
What types of fraud are typically involved in Qui Tam actions?
- Qui Tam actions commonly involve healthcare fraud (such as Medicare or Medicaid fraud), government procurement fraud, defense contractor fraud, and other types of fraud involving federal funds. These can include overbilling, billing for services not rendered, kickbacks, or other forms of fraudulent claims to government programs.
Can Qui Tam whistleblowers remain anonymous?
- While the Qui Tam complaint is initially filed under seal and kept confidential, the whistleblower’s identity may eventually become public if the case proceeds to litigation. However, during the investigation phase, their identity is usually not disclosed.
What financial rewards can whistleblowers expect from Qui Tam lawsuits?
- If a Qui Tam lawsuit results in a recovery for the government, the whistleblower can receive a portion of the proceeds. This reward typically ranges from 15% to 30% of the recovery, depending on factors such as the quality of the information provided and whether the government intervenes in the case.

Notice

This website is designed to provide general information only. This information is not and should not be construed to be legal advice. The transmission of the information found on this website also does not result in the formation of a lawyer-client relationship.

You should be aware that qui tam claims are subject to a Statute of Limitations. The area of limitations periods is complex. There are also first to file rules, public disclosure bars, original source issues, and varying limitations in pursuing retaliation claims. If you wish to pursue your claims, you should promptly seek the opinion of an attorney regarding the merits of your qui tam claim and the applicable statute of limitations.