No Lawyer Means No False Claims Act Suit, Fourth Circuit Affirms

BLOOMBERG

A whistleblower may not pursue a False Claims Act suit against SCANA Corp. and South Carolina Electric & Gas Corp. without counsel, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled Tuesday.

The government, which benefits from whistleblower suits brought in its name, could be bound by an adverse judgment if a court allowed a whistleblower to proceed “pro se,” the court said. read more »

U.S. Recommends No Jail Time for Flash Crash Trader

BLOOMBERG

Navinder Singh Sarao, the British trader blamed for helping cause the 2010 Flash Crash from his bedroom, should serve no additional jail time, U.S. authorities said in a recommendation before his Jan. 28 sentencing in Chicago. read more »

Proposed False Claims Act could affect providers outside of Medicaid system, group says

McKNIGHTS

A proposal to enact a state False Claims Act in Pennsylvania “has the potential to impact the entire long-term care continuum” even though assisted living and personal care communities do not currently participate in the Keystone State’s Medicaid system.

The bipartisan effort in Pennsylvania would be designed to protect whistleblowers who report fraudulent Medicaid claims. read more »

Ex-Fannie Mae Employee Gets Over 6 Years in Prison for Bribery Scheme with Millions of Dollars in Corrupt Commissions and Sales

DOJ

A former Fannie Mae employee was sentenced today to 76 months in federal prison for a multimillion-dollar scheme to take bribes and to discount sales of Fannie Mae-owned properties to herself and to real estate brokers in exchange for cash kickbacks. read more »