The Third Circuit has issued an important restitution decision that significantly narrows the scope of recoverable losses under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (“MVRA”). In United States v. Abrams, the Court held that...more
On January 20, 2026, in Ellingburg v. United States, 607 U.S. ____ (2026), the Supreme Court considered whether the Ex Post Facto Clause applies to the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA), the statutory basis for most...more
The Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (MVRA), enacted in 1996, requires defendants convicted of certain federal crimes to pay monetary restitution to the victims. Defendants convicted of crimes that occurred prior to the...more
On January 20, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States issued three decisions: Berk v. Choy No. 24-440: This case involves state “affidavit of merit” statutes that require certain types of lawsuits, like medical...more
The Mandatory Victims Restitution Act requires sentencing courts to order defendants to make restitution to the victim of the offense or the victim’s estate. In addition to violent crimes, crimes relating to consumer and...more
On Feb. 25, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held in United States v. Afriyie that restitution orders under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (MVRA) do not allow victims to recover attorneys’ fees...more
A federal appeals court recently ruled that an employer was entitled to a former employee’s 401(k) plan funds as restitution for that employee’s embezzlement. However, writes Dan Morgan of Blank Rome, the court failed to...more
Based on a recent restitution submission prepared by Faegre Drinker, a federal judge in Harrisburg, Pa. awarded Eli Lilly and Company $1.9 million in restitution from an individual convicted of trafficking in drugs bearing...more
When corporate executives are charged with crimes, their companies often foot the bill for their defenses. Sometimes those bills can be hefty. And while companies sometimes seek to recoup the expenses when the executives are...more
Do you think that your corporate Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has given you some certainty and finality? Not so fast....more
On December 3, 2019, the Second Circuit affirmed the convictions of two defendants for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, but reversed the District of Connecticut’s order that defendants pay $18.5...more
On August 28, 2019, Judge Garaufis of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that investors in a mining company, Africo Resources Ltd. (“Africo”), could seek restitution from a defendant...more
In a decision with far-reaching implications for corporate victims of fraud, the U.S. Supreme Court recently held that the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 (MVRA) does not entitle victims of certain federal offenses,...more
In January, this blog previewed the Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in Lagos v. United States to resolve a circuit split regarding whether companies could recover costs of internal investigations under the Mandatory...more
On May 29, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Lagos v. United States and held that legal fees and other costs associated with a victim company’s independent investigation of misconduct ultimately resulting in criminal...more
On May 29, 2018, the United States Supreme Court decided Lagos v. United States, narrowly interpreting the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 (“MVRA”) to bar crime victims from recovering the costs of their private...more
In Lagos v. United States, decided on May 29, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that restitution orders under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (MVRA) are limited to fees and expenses incurred during...more
The Supreme Court of the United States issued its rulings in three cases today: Lagos v. United States, No. 16-1519: The Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 requires that defendants convicted of certain offenses...more
On May 29, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Lagos v. United States, No. 16-1519, holding that the federal law making restitution to victims of certain federal crimes mandatory does not apply to victims’...more
A hospital victimized by the sale of adulterated and mislabeled drug products successful obtained a Court order imposing restitution of over $825,000 earlier this month. ...more
Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to resolve a circuit split over when the costs of an internal investigation can be recovered under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (MVRA). The MVRA, which requires convicted criminals...more
On January 12, 2018, the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in Lagos v. United States, No. 16-20146 (2018), which presents the question of whether victims (including corporate victims) are entitled to have their...more
On Friday afternoon, the Supreme Court granted certiorari and agreed to hear arguments in twelve cases: Animal Science Products v. Hebei Welcome, No. 16-1220: Whether a court may exercise independent review of an appearing...more
I started writing this when Scaramucci was communications director, but before I could finish it the revolving door at the West Wing had swung again and he was out. In addition to his statements made to the press, which do...more
The Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 provides that defendants convicted of crimes committed by “fraud or deceit” must compensate victims for the full amount of their losses. A question that courts often face is...more