WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Dec. 21 that during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, it secured more than $3.7 billion in settlements and judgments from fraud and false claims cases.
“Every day, dedicated attorneys, investigators, analysts and support staff at every level of the Justice Department are working to root out fraud and hold accountable those who violate the law and exploit critical government programs,” said acting assistant attorney general Chad A. Readler of the department’s Civil Division. “The recoveries are a testament to the efforts of these valuable public servants and a message to those who do business with the government that fraud and dishonesty will not be tolerated.”
The department said $2.4 billion of the $3.7 billion total came from cases involving the health care industry. This includes cases against drug companies, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and physicians. The department said $543 million was recovered in cases involving housing and mortgage fraud.
The Justice Department also continued to ensure individual accountability for corporate wrongdoing; it targeted individuals as well as corporations when pursuing False Claims Act charges.
The department noted that $3.4 billion of the $3.7 billion of recovery funds came about from whistleblower lawsuits filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.