In a recent development underscoring the focus on fraud in Part C by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), it was announced last week that Martin’s Point Health Care, Inc. (Martin’s Point) has settled allegations of False Claims Act (FCA) violations to the tune of $22.4 million. The case against Martin’s Point emphasized its submission…
In recent years, the world of technology has seen an alarming rise in social engineering and fraudulent instruction scams. This steady increase in criminal activity has had far-reaching repercussions for corporations across the globe. However, what has been even more concerning is the seemingly stealth disappearance of coverage for such events. Notably, insurance coverage for…
Corporate lawyers have indicated that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is refocusing its efforts to enforce the False Claims Act (FCA) within the health care industry. Previously, the DOJ’s focus was primarily on hospitals and traditional medical practices, but lawyers now suggest that the focus has shifted towards fraudulent reimbursement claims in telehealth. The…
In a world where generative AI is becoming an increasingly fundamental part of the modern economy, it’s not just technologists and innovators who are taking note. The artificial intelligence sector is also under the scrutiny of competition enforcers and consumer protection agencies. Concerns continue to mount over the technology’s potential to foster unfair competition methods….
In a concerted effort to curb illegal telemarketing activities, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have partnered for a multijurisdictional campaign known as “Operation Stop Scam Calls”. This initiative underscores intensifying government strategies to cease unwanted and illegal phone calls and texts that have continued to distress consumers across various jurisdictions….
In the convoluted process of buying or selling real estate, you’ve probably encountered the term “clear title.” As the phrase suggests, clear title pertains to the property in question, referring specifically to a title that is free from complications such as liens, encroachments, or other issues that might affect the land, building, or home improvements….
In Florida, a pediatric therapy clinic has been awarded almost $5.2 million in damages following a noncompete lawsuit. This outcome was the result of a bench trial after the judge found two employees guilty of an intentionally constructed scheme to redirect patients and a massive amount of money to their own businesses. The verdict came…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently stated in a newly released MedLearn Matter (MLN7867599, July 2023) that from July 13, 2021 onwards, any “new hospice agency” situated in the states of Texas, California, Arizona, and Nevada will be subjected to a “provisional period of enhanced oversight” for up to a year. The…
Bank OZK, a reputable financial institution, recently announced a concerning data breach affecting an undisclosed number of its customers. The breach originated not from the bank itself, but one of its business partners, demonstrating that the security vulnerabilities extend far beyond a single organization’s control. The bank discovered the breach on August 7, 2023, and…
The False Claims Act (FCA) has been a significant tool for combating fraud against the U.S. government. With the FCA allowing individuals (whistleblowers) who expose fraudulent behavior to potentially share in any government recovery, these exposures have become an important part of the regulatory environment. To help legal professionals stay abreast of the evolving landscape,…
On August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a landmark decision in the case of Stericycle Inc. that marks a new approach in how the Board will weigh workplace policies and rules. The primary fork in this shift revolves around whether these rules infringe upon employees’ rights of engagement in collective workplace…
In recent years, the increasing use of data analytics in identifying fraudulent conduct within the healthcare sector has been a notable topic of interest in the legal world. Law enforcement authorities, federal agencies, and private whistleblowers are working in sync with data science practitioners to analyze extensive data sets, thereby bringing to light fraudulent practices….
In a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court on June 1, 2023, a notable change in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation has been established. The landmark decision from two consolidated cases, U.S. ex rel. Proctor v. Safeway Inc. and U.S. ex rel. Schutte et al. v. SuperValu Inc., has set a new standard — now…
A recent episode of the award-winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds, takes a deep dive into the contentious PCAOB proposal for fraud and compliance audits. Hosted by Thomas Fox, a noted Compliance Evangelist, this podcast has become a go-to destination for those seeking informed commentary and discussions on compliance-related subjects. In the episode, Fox teamed…
Freedom Debt Relief, LLC (FDR) recently came under the spotlight as it announced a data breach that put confidential consumer information at risk. Filed with the Attorney General of Montana on August 3, 2023, the notice alerts to an instance of unauthorized access to certain critical documents holding sensitive data of consumers. Having occurred at…
A recent lawsuit has raised alarm in legal circles, attributing the untimely death of a U.S. Senate candidate to a cryptocurrency scam allegedly masterminded by a campaign staffer. This comes at a time when the legal community is paying keen attention to developments in the cryptocurrency sector, with its potential for misuse causing concern among…
In a complex scenario indicative of the rapid expansion and legislative challenges of the crypto industry, two key cryptocurrency regulatory bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, offering somewhat divergent perspectives on how this emergent technology should be governed. This topic has gained special attention from global legal professionals, as…
In 1963, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a ruling suggesting that an individual does not have an expectation of privacy when a private investigator follows and photographs them on the street once they have claimed personal injuries sustained in a car accident. The argument was that the claimant “must expect reasonable inquiry and investigation to…
The phrase “without merit” is frequently deployed in response to lawsuits, often as a knee jerk reaction. However, the implications of terming a lawsuit as “without merit” could be more substantial than initially expected, as illustrated in a recent case involving a public company and its CEO. The lawsuit revolved around securities fraud claims which…
The UK government is taking a bold step to tackle immigration fraud, with the launch of a special task force. The purpose of this task force is to single out and prosecute immigration lawyers facilitating false asylum claims. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called out these lawyers, stating their corrupt practices ought to be eradicated…
The world of contract law is once again brought into sharper focus with the much-anticipated release of the Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 226, Part Two on Contract Defenses. The episode offers an insightful exploration into the complexities of contract defenses, building on the preliminary discussions of mistake, fraudulent misrepresentation, and non-disclosure covered in Part…
In a decisive move highlighting the ongoing need for stringent supervision in banking relationships with third-party affiliates, the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) announced on July 25, 2023, a civil money penalty amounting to $15 million against a national bank, you can read the announcement here. The penalties were administered due to the…
In recent developments, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has increased its focus on detecting, investigating, and prosecuting fraud, with special attention dedicated to the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC) post-COVID. As reported by JD Supra, heightened scrutiny of ERC claims has culminated in these claims reaching the top of the IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” list of…
US District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan recently dismissed former President Donald Trump’s counter-defamation suit against author E. Jean Carroll. Carroll publicly accused Trump of sexual assault, with a jury finding that Trump had sexually assaulted and defamed Carroll by accusing her of lying. In response to these charges, Trump had claimed that Carroll’s statements on…
Last week, Stefanie Lambert Junttila, a Michigan attorney, was charged for allegedly being part of a scheme by Trump allies to gain unauthorized access to a voting machine after the 2020 election. The charges include undue possession of a voting machine; conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine; conspiracy to commit unauthorized access…