SEC Awards Over $27 Million to Whistleblower

SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an award of more than $27 million to a whistleblower who alerted the agency to misconduct occurring, in part, overseas.  After providing the tip to the Commission, the whistleblower provided critical investigative leads that advanced the investigation and saved significant Commission resources. read more »

Some Banks Keep Customers’ Stimulus Checks if Accounts Are Overdrawn

NEW YORK TIMES

The phenomenon is swiftly becoming a political issue, with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin fielding calls from senators urging him to ensure that relief money isn’t garnished. Banks are legally allowed to withhold funds that go into accounts that have negative balances, and no specific provision in the CARES Act, the $2 trillion relief package that authorized the stimulus payments, prevents banks from taking customers’ stimulus money to cover debts. read more »

$41 Million to Resolve Allegations of Unnecessary Urine Drug Testing

DOJ

Logan Laboratories Inc. have agreed to pay a total of $41 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act for billing Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary Urine Drug Testing.

The allegations that are the subject of today’s settlement were originally alleged in two cases filed under the whistleblower, or qui tam, provision of the False Claims Act.  The act permits private parties to sue for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery.  The act also permits the government to intervene in such actions, as the government previously did in the two whistleblower cases.  The whistleblowers will receive approximately $7.79 million of the settlement.  read more »