On May 19, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the launch of the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which will use the federal False Claims Act (FCA) to pursue claims against recipients of federal funds that knowingly violate federal civil rights law. Continue Reading DOJ’s New Civil Rights Fraud Initiative – Expect Increased Enforcement

Denise Barnes
Denise Barnes counsels clients in high-stakes matters related to fraud allegations, including in healthcare, federal contract procurement, and securities and financial services. A former trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she has extensive experience handling issues related to compliance, white-collar and regulatory investigations, and complex commercial litigation. Denise represents businesses in public and non-public investigations, regulatory inquiries, and proceedings involving federal and state agencies. She frequently assists clients navigating government investigations related to allegations arising under the False Claims Act (FCA), Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), Stark Law, and Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). Notably, during her tenure at the DOJ, she spearheaded numerous multi-district investigations that resulted in over $2.7 billion in recoveries for federal taxpayers.
Key Takeaways from DOJ’s Continued Cybersecurity Enforcement
On March 25, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $4.6 million settlement with MORSECORP, Inc. (MORSE) over its alleged failures to satisfy cybersecurity requirements for federal defense contractors.
False Claims Act Gives Broad Dismissal Authority to Government, District Judge Says
On April 2, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed a whistleblower’s False Claims Act (FCA) action after the relator attempted to dismiss the government as a plaintiff-intervenor in the lawsuit. Continue Reading False Claims Act Gives Broad Dismissal Authority to Government, District Judge Says
United States Files First Complaint Under the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative
On August 22, the United States filed its complaint-in-intervention (Complaint) against the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Georgia Tech Research Corp. (GTRC, collectively, defendants), asserting claims that the defendants knowingly failed to meet cybersecurity requirements in connection with certain Department of Defense (DoD) contracts in violation of the False Claims Act.
The government’s…
The Tale of a Self-Disclosure
Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $12 million settlement with spinal device manufacturer, Innovasis Inc. (Innovasis), and senior executives Brent Felix and Garth Felix related to allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by paying kickbacks to surgeons to induce their use of its spinal devices.Continue Reading The Tale of a Self-Disclosure