January 31, 2000

TAXPAYERS AGAINST FRAUD, THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT LEGAL CENTER, NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Fraud Fighting Group Taps Experienced Attorney for Top Spot

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Taxpayers Against Fraud (TAF), a leading, national organization dedicated to fighting government fraud and protecting the False Claims Act, has named James Moorman as its new executive director.

Mr. Moorman was appointed by the Board of TAF, which was founded in 1986 shortly after Congress enacted amendments to strengthen the False Claims Act. The Act enables ordinary citizens to file a complaint concerning fraud and abuse on behalf of the federal government and to share in the recovery of any public funds. These citizens, also known as "whistleblowers" can bring qui tam suits on their own, or they may be joined by the U.S. Department of Justice.

TAF provides significant informational and technical assistance to whistleblowers and their lawyers. Over the last few years, TAF has broadened its focus to include educating the public and legal community about the Act, documenting the public policy values and legal standing of the qui tam approach and building and maintaining constituency support for the law.

Before taking his current position at TAF, Mr. Moorman worked for 16 years as an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of the New York-based firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, and served as chairman of the firm's Environmental Law Department.

Prior to his work in the private sector, Mr. Moorman served as Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice's Land & Natural Resources Division. The division was responsible for the environmental litigation of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service.

Mr. Moorman said he will work to build and maintain support for the False Claims Act among government officials and ordinary citizens, and vigorously defend against any attempts to repeal or weaken it.

"The False Claims Act has a proven track record of working in the best interests of citizens and returning public money owed to taxpayers, and I intend to continue its good work by broadening and deepening the public's understanding of the critical importance of the Act," said Mr. Moorman. "I also look forward to building on TAF's already strong foundation of legislative advocacy. Working with federal legislators and regulators, TAF will continue to oppose all legal and legislative maneuvers to undermine the Act. Because of its high success rate, the Act must be preserved for generations to come."

Since the False Claims Act was amended in 1986, it has returned more than $6 billion in public funds mostly through prosecutions in the defense and health care industries.

Taxpayers Against Fraud, The False Claims Act Legal Center (TAF) is a nonprofit public interest organization dedicated to combating fraud against the Federal Government through the promotion and use of the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.