Overview

Skadden has significant experience in advising and defending clients in matters involving the federal False Claims Act (the “FCA”) and various state and municipal equivalents. The firm's reach, depth and experience provide the ready capability to perform fact-finding and analysis in connection with complex business matters in any jurisdiction in which our clients deal with the government. Skadden is uniquely positioned to assist clients in navigating the legal landscape when business conduct results in concurrent criminal, civil and/or administrative proceedings that require a strategically coordinated response.

In recent years, at the request of Congress, the Department of Justice (the “DoJ”) has undertaken a more robust enforcement of the FCA. The FCA's treble damages provision, coupled with a statutory penalty for each false claim, provides the government with a very powerful tool to extract lucrative settlements or to win sizeable judgments. During all of the 1990s, there were seven FCA cases in excess of $100 million. In the first six years of this decade, there have been at least 23 FCA cases in excess of $100 million, including a recent $900 million settlement. The FCA is also a cost-effective tool for the government. One economist recently estimated that the government nets thirteen dollars in recoveries for each dollar spent on health-care-related FCA cases.

Although FCA litigation once was almost the exclusive province of the federal government, the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005 provided financial incentives for states to adopt their own versions of the FCA. At least twenty-four states now have false claims statutes, with many focusing on health care. In addition, at least three cities and the District of Columbia have adopted versions of the FCA. Many of these state and municipal FCA equivalents carry significant sanctions and have been successfully used to obtain large recoveries. For example, one case based on California’s FCA resulted in a $187.5 million settlement. Moreover, qui tam litigants – "whistleblowers" who bring FCA suits on behalf of the federal or state government – are combining federal, state, and municipal FCA causes of action in their suits to extract higher recoveries for governmental units and themselves.

Skadden represents companies, their boards and management, and individuals in all aspects of FCA matters, including internal investigations, transactional due diligence, implementation of remedial measures and compliance programs, and the defense of government investigations, enforcement actions and criminal and civil proceedings. (Click here for some of Skadden’s representative FCA matters.) Skadden handles such matters from the time that the allegations first arise through final resolution, whether the matter is concluded with a declination, an agreed upon settlement or, if necessary, trial and appeal. Experience has shown that by conducting a prompt and thorough internal investigation, clients are better positioned to influence the government's approach to the matter. In this regard, after conducting internal investigations, Skadden has successfully resolved matters through settlements favorable to our clients. In addition, we have negotiated favorable settlements of complex parallel proceedings involving criminal, civil and administrative issues without the need for costly and public litigation.

Skadden has numerous former Assistant United States Attorneys in the New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles offices. In addition, a former United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is resident in Skadden's Washington, D.C. office. Skadden's powerful combination of former prosecutors and experienced civil litigators enables the firm to anticipate and respond to the many demands created by the joint investigations and proceedings routinely pursued in connection with FCA matters.