Whistle Blower Litigation

In recent years, Miner, Barnhill and Galland has developed an expertise in representing whistleblowers (known as "relators") in the litigation of "qui tam" cases under the federal False Claims Act ("FCA"). Under the FCA, the whistleblower/relator can bring suit on behalf of the federal government against companies and individuals who commit fraud against the federal government to recover the damages caused by the fraud plus any other appropriate relief. In the event of a successful outcome, the relator is eligible to receive a percentage share of whatever funds that he/she recovers for the government. Partners Judson Miner, Jeffrey Cummings, and Brad Weiss all devote a substantial percentage of their time to this practice group. Some of the cases handled by the firm over the years include:

United States ex rel. Fletcher v. Pacificare Health Systems, Inc., (filed and settled in the District of the District of Columbia).  In this case, relator claimed that defendant submitted false claims for payment of health insurance related claims to the federal government.  The case settled in 2002 for $87,300,000;

United States ex rel. Chandler v. County of Cook (pending in the Northern District of Illinois). This precedent setting case involves the relator's claim that defendant Cook County committed fraud in connection with its administration of a federal grant.  The United States Supreme Court issued an opinion (found at123 S.Ct. 1239 (2003)) in which it held for the first time that local and municipal governments are capable of being sued as defendants under the False Claims Act.  Judson Miner argued the case on behalf of the relator in the United States Supreme Court;

United States of America ex rel. Dimitri Yannacopoulos v. General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin Corporation, (pending in the Northern District of Illinois).  This case involves relator's claim that defendants General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin Corporation submitted a number of false certifications, false records, false statements, and false claims for payment or approval in connection with their federally-financed sales of  F-16 fighter jet to Greece.  A published opinion in the case can be found at 315 F.Supp.2d 939 (N.D.Ill. 2004);

United States ex rel. Sarmont v. Target Corporation, et al., (pending in the Northern District of Illinois) .  This case involves relator's claim that defendants submitted false claims in connection with their provision of electrical and electronic components that were installed in military aircraft .  An opinion in the case can be found at 2003 WL 22389119 (N.D.Ill. 2003).

United States ex rel. King v. F.E. Moran, Inc., (filed and settled in the Northern District of Illinois).  This case involved relator's claim that defendant submitted false claims for payment in connection with its work on federally funded construction projects.  The case was settled in 2003 under a confidentiality agreement.  An opinion in the case can be found at 2002 WL 2003219 (N.D.Ill. 2002).