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New York-based Corning Incorporated has agreed to pay $5.65 million to the U.S. government to resolve allegations that it knowingly presented false claims for laboratory research products it sold to federal agencies through its Life Sciences division.

In 2005, Corning entered a contract to sell laboratory research products to the federal government through a program that provided authorized purchasers with a streamlined procurement process for commonly used goods and services.  The suit alleged that Corning knowingly failed to fulfill its contractual obligation to provide the program with information about its discounts to other customers and made false statements about its sales practices, leading to the government receiving lower discounts and paying more for Corning products than it should have.

The suit was brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens to bring suit for false claims on behalf of the government and share in the recovery.  Kevin Jones, a former Corning Life Sciences sales representative, will receive $904,000 as his share of the settlement.

The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments.  We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who expose every kind of fraud against the government, including health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud.  Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.

American Systems Corporation, Anixter International Inc., and Corning Cable Systems LLC have agreed to pay the U.S. government $3 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act while bidding on a contract with the CIA, the U.S. Justice Department announced today.  The United States alleged that the three companies provided CIA employees and outside consultants with meals, entertainment, sporting tickets, and other gifts and gratuities while bidding on a contract to provide the CIA with supplies and services.

Anixter sales representative William Jones first initiated the lawsuit under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the federal False Claims Act.  The False Claims Act allows private citizens with knowledge of fraud or false claims to sue on behalf of the government and share up to 30% of the recovery obtained by the government.  Jones will receive $585,000 as his share in this settlement.

The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments.  We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who expose every kind of fraud perpetrated against the government including health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud.  Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.

The Chanler Group's senior paralegal and nine of its attorneys attended Project Open Hand's 21st Annual Hand-to-Hand Luncheon, supporting its charitable mission of providing nutritious meals and groceries to people with symptomatic HIV/AIDS or breast cancer, homebound or critically ill people, and seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Chanler Group attorneys participated in a silent auction and made donations toward this worthy cause.  The Chanler Group is proud to be part of Project Open Hand's Brass Plate Club of donors, whose giving has totaled from $2,500 - $4,999 since October 2012.

Visit Project Open Hand's website to make a donation.

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers and whistleblowers who promote awareness of toxic chemicals found in our everyday environment and to enhance the health of the general public by advocating for the removal of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm from consumer products.  The Chanler Group and its clients apply over 20 years of knowledge and experience to their ongoing enforcement activities with the goal of holding those responsible for toxic exposures accountable for their violations of state and federal law.  

In the photo, from left to right: Larry Haveson, Brian Johnson, Rosalind Conrad, John Mayo, Rachel Doughty, Harris Weinstein, Josh Voorhees, Laralei Paras

A CVS subsidiary, RxAmerica, has agreed to a $5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice based on allegations that they defrauded the Medicare prescription drug plan.  RxAmerica allegedly received Medicare Part D payments for covered generic prescription medication at prices that were sometimes significantly higher than pricing data the company submitted to Medicare's web-based Plan Finder tool.  This not only cost the Medicare program money, but also allegedly caused beneficiaries losses when they entered a gap in their coverage (frequently referred to as the "donut hole") due to the price difference of their medication.  The two whistleblower plaintiffs in the case should be eligible for up to 30% of the settlement according to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, but the press release from the Department of Justice did not specify the amount.

The Chanler Group, in association with the Hirst Law Group, represents whistleblowers who take action under the False Claims Act to report fraud committed against the federal and state governments.  We have years of experience representing whistleblower clients who uncover fraud of every kind perpetrated against our government including, health care fraud, contract fraud, and tax fraud.  Read more about our expertise in False Claims Act cases and how you can take action.