By Larry D. Lahman
"Worse than traitors in arms are the men who pretend loyalty to the flag, feast and fatten on the misfortunes of the nation while patriotic blood is crimsoning the plains of the south and their countrymen are moldering in the dust."
Abraham Lincoln
I. Introduction
II. History of the False Claims Act
A. The 1863 Original FCA
B. The 1943 Amendments Cripple the FCA
C. The 1986 Amendments Reinvigorate the FCA
III. The Modern False Claims Act
A. Elements of a False Claim
1. Claims against the United States
2. False or Fraudulent Claims
a. Claims for Services that Are Improperly Provided
b. Product Defects and Product Substitutions
c. False Pricing
3. Knowledge Requirement
4. Damages
a. Civil Penalties
b. Civil Damages
c. Consequential Damages
5. Statute of Limitations
B. Defenses to FCA Actions
1. Government Acquiescence
2. Innocent Mistake or Negligence
3. Substantial Compliance
4. Double Jeopardy
IV. The False Claims Case
A. The Relator
B. Disclosure
C. The Seal
D. Government Intervention
E. Government Declination
1. Original Source Requirement
2. Government Employees
3. No Qui Tam against State
F. Relator’s Share
G. Legal Fees and Expenses
H. Whistleblower Protection
V. Federal Contract Law and the FCA
A. Types of Government Contracts
1. Procurement Methods
2. Payment Methods
B. Solicitation and Bidding Requirements
C. Accurate, Complete and Current Pricing
D. Allowable Costs
1. Reasonable Costs
2. Allocable Costs
3. Unallowable Costs
E. Contract Certifications
F. Contract Specifications
VI. Targets of FCA Litigation
A. Defense Contractors
B. Health Care
C. Environment
D. Financial Services
E. Oil & Gas
F. Scientific Research
G. Education
H. Other Government Programs
VII. Agriculture and the False Claims Act
A. Defective Goods
B. Subsidy Payments
C. Federal Crop Insurance
D. Guaranteed Loans
VIII. Miscellaneous
A. Taxpayers Against Fraud
B. Library Resources
C. Debarment and Criminal Provisions D. State FCAsE. Qualifying State FCAs
IX. Summary