Category: BLOG
Colorado Legislature Introduces the Colorado False Claims Act (CFCA)
For more than a decade Colorado has had the Colorado Medicaid False Claims Act, making it unlawful for persons to submit false claims to Colorado’s Medicaid programs. However, fraud against the state occurs in many other contexts besides Medicaid (e.g., infrastructure contracting, purchase of goods and services, grant awards). On January 21, 2022, the State …
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Minnesota’s Revived Law on Reasonable Accommodations
Individuals with disabilities are afforded considerable legal protection against workplace discrimination under both state and federal law. The Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) is our state law that prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on protected characteristics in Minnesota. In the context of individuals with disabilities, the MHRA provides that, except when based on a …
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Senator Chuck Grassley Discusses the Importance of the False Claims Act Amendments
On October 21, 2021, Senator Chuck Grassley discussed the importance of the False Claims Act during the Executive Business Meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee. During his discussion, Senator Grassley exposed the fraud lobby’s efforts to undermine bipartisan, common-sense amendments to the #FalseClaimsAct, the government’s primary tool to fight fraud. Under the FCA more than …
DOJ Highlights Importance of Whistleblowers and False Claims Act to Deter Cyber Fraud
In 1865, it was whistleblowers who were critical in reporting fraud by those who provided the U.S. War Department with rusty rifles, boats that leaked, and hats that melted in the rain. Today, whistleblowers are now critical to protecting the United States in the digital space. No longer on the battlefield of the Civil War, …
Reflection on National Whistleblower Day 2021
Why do we honor whistleblowers today? We honor whistleblowers because we rely on them to expose corporate wrongdoing. Whether insider employees, consumers or patients – whistleblowers see illegal conduct and do something about it. We honor whistleblowers because they model integrity and courage. Whistleblowers take a stand knowing that blowing the whistle is risky business …
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What is Marital Status Discrimination?
Were you fired from marital status discrimination, because of your spouse or something that your spouse did? Or, were you discriminated against at work because you are single, married, or divorced? Under Minnesota law, it is illegal for an employer to refuse to hire, terminate an employee, or discriminate against an employee based on their …
Can the False Claims Act Protect Former Employees?
A recent decision out the 6th Circuit reinforces that former employees are protected from retaliation under the False Claims Act – even when the retaliatory conduct happens after they are fired or leave the company. In the lawsuit, an employee alleged he was “marginalized” for insisting on compliance with the law during his employment and …
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Legislation to Prohibit Arbitration Clauses from Denying Employees Their Day in Court
Forced arbitration is a powerful tool used by employers to limit employees from suing them in court. Under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), employers have wide latitude to force employees into mandatory arbitration. Arbitration is a binding process that is conducted by a private judge (arbitrator), instead of a public trial. Arbitration can have many …
False Claims Act Focus for 2021
Knowing the kinds of fraud the federal government is focused on fighting is an important warning to health care providers, contractors, grantees, and others doing business with the government. But this information is also a source of encouragement for those who blow the whistle when such business dealings turn into fraud. Acting Assistant Attorney General …
The Equality Act – LGBTQ Discrimation Laws
Does federal law protect LGBT individuals? In a groundbreaking decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of three employee plaintiffs—two gay men and one transgender woman—in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia (which was consolidated with Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda and G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC). ‘The Court held that …
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