The False Claims Act (FCA) is designed to deter abuse and fraud of government benefits or contracts by private parties. Whenever a person or company contracts to provide services to the government or government beneficiaries, the FCA imposes liability on any contractor or business that knowingly presents or causes to be presented a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval.

In the final days of the legislative session, the California Assembly passed and Governor Newsom signed into law a number of amendments to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), two of which will impact California employers and provide at least a slight reprieve from compliance with some of the more onerous aspects of the CCPA.

The Eleventh Circuit’s recent decision in United States v. Aseracare, Inc., No. 16-13004 (11th Cir. Sept. 9, 2019) makes clear that reasonable minds can disagree in the exercise of clinical judgment without constituting actionable fraud in medical certifications for reimbursement by Medicare.

On October 9, 2019, the White House issued two Executive Orders (EOs) that clarify how federal agencies can use guidance documents. These new presidential directives follow the release of new policies issued on August 6 by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water that also take aim at informal or draft policy documents.

When motor vehicle accidents result in criminal charges, there are major implications for related civil litigation, and coordination with the criminal defense team is essential.

An owner-operator is normally an independent driver that owns his or her own tractor(s) and solicits work from traditional carriers, such as long-hauls, moving household goods, and intermodal freight. They are an essential element in the transportation industry to assist with cyclical demand.