The Pfizer $2.3 billion settlement in 2009 was a watershed moment in healthcare fraud enforcement. Not only was it the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history at the time, but it also showcased the power of whistleblowers in holding the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies accountable. The case revolved around allegations of Pfizer illegally promoting […]
Qui tam cases filed by whistleblowers don’t just result in financial recoveries — someitmes they reshape entire industries. United States ex rel. Franklin v. Parke-Davis (2004) is an example of such industry-shifting cases. The whistleblower in that case was Dr. David Franklin, a former medical liaison at Parke-Davis, a subsidiary of Warner-Lambert (later acquired by
United States ex rel. Franklin v. Parke-Davis (2004) Read More »
Most healthcare fraud involves at least one form of fraudulent billing. At Barrett Johnston, PLLC, we help whistleblowers identify recognize these schemes and craft them into viable allegations because they often serve as the foundation for False Claims Act cases. For FCA purposes, fraudulent billing refers to the submission of claims to Medicare, Medicaid, or
At Barrett Johnston, one of the most common fears we hear from potential whistleblowers is: What if I lose my job? This concern goes to the heart of retaliation, a legal concept that protects employees who report fraud or misconduct. Retaliation occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee because they engaged in
In federal False Claims Act (FCA) cases, the whistleblower is often referred to as the “relator.” We emphasize this term because it highlights the special legal role ordinary citizens can play in exposing fraud. A relator is the individual who files a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the United States government. Unlike a traditional
Healthcare fraud often hides in plain sight. One of the most important terms for anyone exploring fraud in the healthcare system is the Stark Law, also known as the Physician Self-Referral Law. It’s a concept that comes up frequently in whistleblower cases, yet many people outside the legal and medical fields aren’t sure what it
The Stark Law, formally known as the Physician Self-Referral Law, is one of the most important — and most complex — regulations in healthcare fraud enforcement. At its core, Stark Law prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to entities in which they (or an immediate family member) have a financial interest. For example,
The False Claims Act (FCA) has been on the books since the Civil War, but by the mid-20th century, its impact had faded. That changed in 1986, when Congress passed a major amendment that revitalized the law and transformed it into the powerful whistleblower tool we know today. At Barrett Johnston, we often trace modern
From 1863 contractors to today’s hospitals and drug companies, it has always taken brave insiders to expose fraud. The False Claims Act (FCA) is one of the most important laws in the fight against fraud against the United States government, and its story begins during the American Civil War. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed
In 2012, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) agreed to pay $3 billion in what was then the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history. At Barrett Johnston, we highlight this case because it shows the incredible scale of misconduct that whistleblowers and federal investigators can uncover when they work together. The case centered on allegations that GSK engaged
