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Calculating Damages under the False Claims Act

Calculating Damages under the False Claims Act. When a person acts to defraud the government, that person can be made to pay three times the damages caused by “the act of that person.” 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a). H ow do you calculate the amount of damages?.

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Calculating Damages under the False Claims Act

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  1. Calculating Damages under the False Claims Act • When a person acts to defraud the government, that person can be made to pay three times the damages caused by “the act of that person.” 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a). • How do you calculate the amount of damages?

  2. Formula for Damages Directly Caused By False Claim • Each individual fraud case involves unique facts to establish damages directly caused by FCA violation. BMY-Combat Systems Div. of Harsco Corp. v. United States, 44 Fed. Cl. 141 (Fed. Cl. 1999) • Ordinarily, damages are the amount paid out by reason of the false claims over what would have been paid had claims been true. United States v. Woodbury, 359 F. 2d 370 (9th Cir. 1966)

  3. Any Reasonable Method • “[T]he Supreme Court will consider any reasonable method of calculating damages which will fairly reimburse the government for its losses and expenses, without creating a windfall for the government.” U.S. ex rel. Roby v. Boeing Co., 79 F.Supp.2d 877 (D. C. Ohio 1999), aff’d on other grounds, 302 F.3d 637 (6th Cir. 2002)

  4. If Truth Known, Would the Government Have Paid? • Amount of the False Claim • MINUS • Amount the Government would pay knowing the truth. • United States ex rel. Marcus v. Hess, 317 U.S. 537, 543-44 (1943) (Bid rigging) Damages should “’make the government whole.’” (Restitution-like)

  5. Types of Contract Fraud • Product Substitution – The Difference between the Value of that provided and the Value if as Specified - United States v. Bornstein, 423 U.S. 303 (1976); United States v. American Packing Corp., 125 F. Supp. 788 (D. N.J. 1954) (Benefit of the Bargain) (Some substituted goods may have no value.)

  6. Types of Contract Fraud Failure to Test/Falsifying Test Results – Difference between value of product not tested and value if it had been tested – Also damages for any testing costs claimed.

  7. Failure to Test - US ex rel. Compton v. Midwest Specialties, 142 F.3d 296 (6th Cir. 1998) (Products had no value. None were of quality required no assurance of quality by testing.)

  8. Costs to Remedy Defects • Commercial Contractors v. US, 154 F.3d 1357 (Fed. Cir. 1998) - Deficient performance – where value cannot be reasonably calculated, use alternative basis – what will it cost to fix it the way it should have been? BMY Combat Systems v. US, 44 Fed. Cl. 141 (1998) (costs of inspecting, repairing, manufacturing replacement products, PLUS interest on premature payments for untested products.)

  9. Types of Contract Fraud • Premature Claims for Progress Payments - Fixed Price Contract – front-loaded claims for progress payments damages based on amount of payment not yet due, not simply cost of money/interest. – Young-Montenay v. United States, 15 F. 3d 1040 (Fed. Cir. 1994).

  10. Types of Contract Fraud • Fraud to Induce Contract Award - (Fraud in the Inducement )-e.g., violation of Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA); False Cost or Pricing Data – SeeHarrison v. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., 176 F. 3d 776, 792 (4th Cir. 1999) Damages are the amount of each claim presented. “[T]aint entered into every swollen estimate which was the basic cause for payment of every dollar paid by the [government].”

  11. Types of Contract Fraud • Fraud in the inducement - Fraudulent Loan Application (False statement to get loan guaranteed by government) -Costs incurred by government when defendant defaults.)U. S. v. Hill, 676 F. Supp. 1158 (N.D. Fla. 1987)

  12. Types of Contract Fraud • Fraud in the inducement (False statement to get loan guaranteed by government) -Costs incurred by government when defendant defaults.)U. S. v. Hill, 676 F. Supp. 1158 (N.D. Fla. 1987)

  13. Types of Contract Fraud • Kickbacks - Damages may be the amount of the kickbacks paid (and were nearly so in this case) but the amount of the kickbacks is a relevant factor to consider.) U. S. v. Killough, 848 F.2d 1523 (11th Cir. 1988)

  14. Types of Contract Fraud • Fraud in the inducement –“But for” Test -failure to reveal conflict that may have/would have precluded award of contract – Full contract amount. U.S. v. TDC, 288 F.3d 421 (D.C. Cir. 2002)

  15. Types of Contract Fraud • Shifting Between Direct and Indirect Charges – Amounts shifted that would not have been available if properly administered.

  16. Types of Contract Fraud • Shifting Between Different Contracts – Amounts used from the contract that were paid for the work on another, different contract that should not have been used to pay for the contract.

  17. Types of Contract Fraud • Charging for Labor of Unqualified Persons Contract requires minimum level of education, training, experience; • Uses under-qualified personnel, yet bills for qualified personnel. • Damages - Difference between the two rates • Unless government has full knowledge and accepts work. SeeU.S. ex rel. Ubl v. IIF Data Solutions, 650 F.3d 445, 453 (4th Cir. 2011).

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