False Claims Act Practice in Virginia

Qui Tam Practice Example: Use of the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act to Combat Fraud in State Grants

An article in yesterday’s Lynchburg News and Advance provides a great chance to look at some potential uses of the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act by the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.  We will also examine how qui tam relators can come forward in the […]

Yet Another Reminder About Attorney Fees Petitions

The Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly blog has a post today relating to the use of the Laffey-Matrix in fee shifting cases.  It is not clear whether the Laffey Matrix at issue is the real Laffey Matrix (that is, the one prepared […]

William C. “Bill” Mims Formally Becomes Virginia’s 45th Attorney General

 As anticipated, today Virginia’s General Assembly elected former Chief Deputy Attorney General William C. Mims as Virginia’s 45th Attorney General.  You can read the official OAG press release here.    This followed in the wake of former Attorney General Bob […]

Breaking News: Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell resigns to focus on his gubernatorial race

Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced his resignation this morning in an email to OAG staffers.  No big surprise there–for the last thirty years, no Virginia Attorney General has served more than three years in office.  Julian Walker at the PilotOnline […]

Just One Example of Why the Office of the Attorney General is so Important

Given that the last few posts have concerned the OxyContin prosecutions led by Attorney General Bob McDonnell and former U.S. Attorney John Brownlee, today’s OAG press release was perfect timing.Today, Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell awarded a small slice of […]

How The Mighty Have Fallen: Restrictions Are Upheld for Executives in Purdue Pharma OxyContin Case

An administrative law judge has upheld a decision barring three former Purdue Pharma executives from participating in federal health care programs for 15 years, the Department of Health and Human Services announced last Friday, according to the New York Times.  The three […]

Starting today, Federal Contractors Must Focus on Ethics and Disclose “Credible Evidence” of False Claims Act Violations

Effective today, federal contractors are required by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (“FAR”) to take certain proactive steps regarding the Federal False Claims Act.  The Federal Register’s publication, which includes the comments made by the industry, and the responses to such […]

Q & A: Is It Necessary for the Virginia Attorney General to File A Complaint Under Seal?

Q:  Is It Necessary for the Virginia Attorney General to File A Complaint Under Seal when the Office initiates a case on its own, without a relator? A:  In a word, no.  The answer to this question raises a larger issue, however–namely,  […]

October 27, 2008 Marks the Anniversary of the Rebirth of the Federal False Claims Act

    It was 22 years ago today that President Reagan signed into law the 1986 Amendments to the Federal False Claims Act.  For all intents and purposes, the 1986 amendments breathed new life into what had otherwise become a stale and lifeless statute.  […]

New Opinion from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia interprets the public disclosure bar and release agreements

    In the ongoing saga of Purdue Pharma, an