Posts from 2017
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Moore & Lee Welcomes Ashley Presley
Moore & Lee is pleased to announce that Ashley Presley has joined the firm as an Associate. Ashley previously worked as a litigation attorney at the Department of Veterans Affairs where she was responsible for all facets of government contracting on behalf of the Agency
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Moore & Lee Welcomes Alexander Yun
Moore & Lee is pleased to announce that Alexander Yun has joined the firm as an Associate. Alex previously worked for a boutique law firm in Fairfax, VA where he practiced all facets of civil litigation.
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Continued Developments on False Claims Act Liability Under the Implied Certification Theory
The U.S. Supreme Court in Universal Health Servs., Inc. v. United States, held that liability can exist under the civil False Claims Act (FCA) based on the implied certification theory, resolving a split among the Federal Court of Appeals about the theory’s viability. Since that decision, Federal Circuits have begun to explore the ramifications of the holding. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in United States v. Sanford–Brown, Ltd., examined the new standard and held that the conditions for liability under an implied certification theory were not met. 840 F.3d 445, 447 (7th Cir.). The Court of Appeals found that “bare speculation” regarding misleading representations is insufficient to support a claim at the summary judgment stage. Id. Second, the granting of summary judgment was affirmed because the plaintiff failed to establish the independent element of materiality. Id. The Court of Appeals strongly enforced this element of the implied certification theory, and focused on the fact that there was no evidence to support the argument that the government’s decision to pay would likely or actually have been different if it had known of the alleged misrepresentations. Id. Further, the Court of Appeals stressed that even if it was shown that the government’s knowledge of misrepresentations would have caused it to decline payment, this alone would still not be enough to meet the high standard required for the materiality element. Id. at 448. In summary, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals did not try to find ways to work around the Supreme Court’s decision; rather, it whole-heartedly enforced the elements outlined by the Supreme Court and showed that it will hold plaintiffs to a rigorous standard on alleged liability under the FCA based on the implied certification theory.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently addressed the materiality element of the implied certification theory as well. United States ex rel. Kelly v. Serco, Inc., 846 F.3d 325 (9th Cir.). Again, the Court of Appeals held that the claims failed because of the failure to meet the rigorous materiality standard. Id. at 333. As the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals did, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that it is not enough to show that the government would not have paid if it knew of the alleged misrepresentation. Id. Rather, what was important here was the fact that the government did not find the reports which contained the alleged misrepresentations useful—the government found the reports to be neither necessary nor cost‑justified for their related project. Id. at 334. This indicates that the Ninth Circuit will examine the government’s use of the substance that contains the alleged misrepresentations, and that materiality will be judged partly on the utility of that use. The takeaway from this case is that the Ninth Circuit, like the Seventh Circuit, will apply a rigorous standard to meet the materiality element. Moving forward, it will be worth watching the Federal Circuits as they continue to develop and explore their treatment of the materiality element.
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Moore & Lee is Pleased to Announce that Jason Constantine has Become a Partner in the Firm
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Moore & Lee Welcomes Two Summer Associates
Moore & Lee is pleased to welcome John Bertino and Rachel Bauer as summer associates. John has just finished his second year at George Washington University Law School and Rachel has just finished her first year at American University Washington College of Law.
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Robert M. Moore Named in Virginia Super Lawyers 2017
Congratulations to Robert M. Moore on again being recognized as a Virginia Super Lawyer for Construction Litigation.