US: Constantine Cannon announced a $2.6m whistleblower settlement

Constantine Cannon is pleased to announce a $2.6 million settlement on behalf of its client for whistleblower allegations against Bay Sleep Clinic. The settlement was announced by the United States government on December 28, 2016, against Bay Sleep Clinic, which currently operates 20 locations throughout northern California; its related Qualium Corporation and Amerimed Corporation businesses; and owners and operators Anooshiravan Mostowfipour and Tara Nader.

The “qui tam,” or whistleblower, lawsuit alleged that the defendants fraudulently billed Medicare for sleep studies conducted by unlicensed individuals in unapproved locations; improperly dispensed durable medical equipment from unapproved locations using unlicensed technicians; and paid doctors for referrals in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The defendants neither admitted nor denied liability.

The whistleblower, Elma F. Dresser, is a former Bay Sleep Clinic employee who worked as a sleep technician and marketer for eight years. Through her various roles at the company, Ms. Dresser became familiar with the defendants’ alleged scheme to bilk money from Medicare. She filed her suit in 2012, leading the government to investigate the claims and join the case.

Ms. Dresser was represented by Eric R. Havian, partner and attorney, Jessica T. Moore, partner and attorney, Anne Hayes Hartman, partner and attorney, Hallie Noecker, attorney, and Sarah Poppy Alexander, attorney of Constantine Cannon’s whistleblower practice in San Francisco, along with co-counsel from the Law Office of William C. Dresser.

“It’s rewarding to see the alleged fraudsters held responsible. Because of the close cooperation and work between the whistleblower and the government, we were able to recover significant funds for the government,” said Anne Hayes Hartman, co-lead counsel on the case. “It is gratifying to represent people like Elma Dresser, who bravely stepped forward with knowledge of her employer’s wrongdoing. Many do not appreciate the risks whistleblowers face to hold alleged wrongdoers accountable.”

Full Content: PR Newswire

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