Ninth Circuit’s Application of the FCA’s Government-Action Bar Provides Finality to Defendants

• Published date: 15 December 2017
• Author: David Pivnick and Jason Mayer
• Subject Matter: Administrative,Corporate & Commercial
• Law Firm: McGuireWoods LLP

The FCA contains several provisions that are aimed at discouraging “parasitic” or duplicative qui tam actions. One such provision, known as the “government-action bar,” prohibits relators from bring a qui tam action “based upon allegations or transactions which are the subject of a civil suit . . . in which the Government is already a party.” 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(3). In United States ex rel. Bennett v. Biotronik, Inc., — F.3d —-, No. 16-15919, 2017 WL 5907900 (9th Cir. Dec. 1, 2017), the Ninth Circuit offered a broad but sensible interpretation of the government-action bar, finding that it applied to claims that the Government declined to pursue in a prior qui tam action.

On December 31, 2009, Brian Sant filed a qui tam action against Biotronik, a medical device supplier. Sant alleged, among other things, that Biotronik bribed physicians with extravagant dinners, expensive sports and theater tickets, travel, and “paid, but useless, speaking engagements;” created “advisory boards” to funnel illegal payments to physicians; and used “sham clinical studies to provide kickbacks” for physicians who prescribed Biotronik’s products. The United Stated investigated...