In the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValue, Inc., interpreting the False Claims Act’s scienter element – referring to the defendant’s knowledge and subjective beliefs –...more
The False Claims Act (FCA) permits private individuals to bring lawsuits in the name of the United States—called qui tam—against those they believe have defrauded the federal government: 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b). The FCA thereby...more
On March 12, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an important decision that sheds light on the test for determining scienter under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The Second Circuit reasoned that...more
In 2023, the Supreme Court and the United States Courts of Appeals published a number of significant decisions with implications for entities in the health care and life science industries facing False Claims Act (FCA)...more
The U.S. Supreme Court will likely decide before the end of its current term whether the failure to make a disclosure pursuant to Item 303 of Regulation S-K can serve as the basis for a securities fraud claim under Section...more
As we take stock of the Supreme Court’s 2023 term, two landmark decisions shift our understanding of scienter and government intervention as it relates to the False Claims Act (“FCA”), 31 U.S.C. § 3729. First, on June 1,...more
On March 20, 2018, the United States Supreme Court decided Cyan, Inc. v. Beaver County Employees Retirement Fund, in which it unanimously held that the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1998 does not strip state...more
n June 1, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously settled a long-standing dispute over a subjective versus objective standard for scienter under the False Claims Act (FCA), holding that a defendant’s own subjective belief is...more
On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously settled a long-standing dispute over a subjective versus objective standard for scienter under the False Claims Act (FCA), holding that a defendant’s own subjective belief...more
The Federal False Claims Act (“FCA”) allows private parties to bring lawsuits in the name of the federal government against defendants who allegedly “knowingly” present a false claim to the government for payment. The...more
Two False Claims Act (“FCA”) cases have recently been decided by the United State Supreme Court, further clarifying one aspect of the FCA. In the recent decisions in U.S. ex rel Proctor v. Safeway, Inc. and U.S. ex rel....more
On June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued its much-anticipated opinion in United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc. and United States ex rel. Proctor v. Safeway, Inc. (Schutte), holding...more
On June 1, 2023, in U.S. ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc., the Supreme Court clarified the state-of-mind (or “scienter”) standard under the False Claims Act (FCA), holding that a defendant’s subjective belief that a claim...more
Two separate lawsuits alleging False Claims Act (FCA) violations by retail drug pharmacies made their way to the Supreme Court of the United States this term. The lawsuits decided whether the pharmacies could defeat these...more
On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated decision in the consolidated cases United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc. and United States ex rel. Proctor v. Safeway, Inc., Nos. 21-1326 &...more
Leaves Window Open for Defense Based on Subjective Belief - On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in a consolidated appeal of two healthcare qui tam cases that removes a very powerful defense from...more
Government contractors, health care providers and many other parties who submit claims for payment to the federal government are subject to liability under the False Claims Act (FCA). This month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued...more
The False Claims Act imposes liability for false and fraudulent claims a defendant submitted with the requisite state of mind, or scienter. Before the Supreme Court handed down its June 1, 2023, decision in the combined...more
In one of the most closely watched False Claims Act (FCA) cases in years, the Supreme Court unanimously decided on June 1 that when determining intent under the statute, courts must consider the state of mind of the defendant...more
The Supreme Court , in a unanimous decision, rejected a challenge by corporate pharmacy defendants, to the intent requirement in a Medicaid and Medicare over-billing False Claims Act case. Justice Clarence Thomas, who has...more
The U.S. Supreme Court clarified the standard for a defendant's state of mind in False Claims Act ("FCA") cases, holding that a defendant acts "knowingly"—which the FCA defines also to include deliberate ignorance and...more
The SuperValu case arose from separate lawsuits against two companies that operate retail drug pharmacies across the country: SuperValu Inc. and Safeway, Inc. In each case, a whistleblower – on behalf of the federal...more
A defendant’s knowledge of and subjective beliefs about the meaning of legal requirements—not what an objectively reasonable person may have believed—are what matters when determining whether a defendant “knowingly” submitted...more
For background on this case, please refer to Part I. For updates from the Supreme Court oral arguments on April 18, please refer to Part II. On Thursday, June 1, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in United States et al....more
On June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a decision in United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu, Inc., clarifying when a defendant “knowingly” submits a false claim for payment under the False Claims Act (FCA). The Court...more