WHO IS LIABLE?
Virtually anyone who receives money from a governmental agency in Florida, pays money to a governmental agency, or helps someone else get money from a governmental agency, can engage in conduct which would make them liable for a violation of the Florida False Claims Act.
Common examples of violators, who can be liable, include the following:
Individuals and Businesses: Virtually any individual or business who does business with a government agency, or sells something to a governmental agency, can be a defendant in a qui tam action.
Government Contractors and Subcontractors: Anyone who contracts to provide services or goods to a governmental agency can be a defendant for a vast array of qui tam claims.
Medical Providers: Doctors, hospitals, HMO’s and clinics are often defendants in qui tam actions, for Medicaid/Medicare fraud and a wide range of fraudulent billing practices which can range from charging for services not performed, to performing services which were unnecessary.
Local Government Agencies and Officials: Because they are recipients of large amounts of government money, local government entities can be defendants in qui tam actions.
Private Universities: Private universities and colleges have been charged as defendants in qui tam actions that involve their handling of grants and research and development money.
Activities which constitute a violation under the Florida False Claims Act include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to a governmental agency a false or fraudulent claim for payment;
(b) knowingly using, or causing to be used, a false record or statement to get a claim paid by a governmental agency;
(c) conspiring with others to get a false or fraudulent claim paid by a governmental agency;
(d) knowingly using, or causing to be used, a false record or statement to conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay money or transmit money to a governmental agency.
To obtain more information, contact:
Andrew J. Campanelli
Campanelli & Associates, P.C.
129 Front Street
Mineola, NY 11501
(516) 746-1600
