False Claims Act Update & Alert
Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund | Washington, D.C. | WWW.TAF.ORG November 7, 2006
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			In Plain English: Serious Trouble U.S. District Judge Patti Saris has ruled that "Average Wholesale Price" (AWP) means what the dictionary says, and that it is not a "term of art." Though this ruling comes in a  private class action lawsuit in Boston, it will also hold true in False Claims Act cases waiting to come to trial in this same court. The bottom line:  Pharmaceutical companies are in serious trouble.  >> To read more
			Crist Wins Governor's Slot in FL Florida Attorney General Charles Crist has been elected Governor of Florida.  As AG, Crist joined Florida False Claims Act cases against Mylan, Teva, Watson, Sandoz, Ivax, and Purepac pharmaceuticals, as well as Tenet Healthcare, Caremark, Bank of America, Duvall Presbyterian Home, and Convergys. As Governor, Crist says he will negotiate volume discounts on prescription drugs. >> To read more
			Spitzer Wins Governor's Slot in NY NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has been elected Governor of New York.  As Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer actively encouraged the State Legislature to pass a New York State False Claims Act modeled on the federal version of the law.  The trouble ahead:  the NY legislature is incredibly dysfunctional.
			Cuomo Wins AG Slot in NY Former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo has been elected Attorney General of New York.  During his campaign, Cuomo said “In order to fight Medicaid fraud, it is critical that we have the tools that other states and the federal government have at their disposal, such as a False Claims Act to allow citizen whistleblowers to uncover fraud.”  >> To read more
			McCollum Wins AG Slot in FL Former Congressman Bill McCollum has been elected Attorney General of Florida. McCollum denies he tried to gut the False Claims Act at the behest of the American Hospital Association in 1998.  Now he says:  "When it comes to fraud and abuse, the No. 1 concern of the Attorney General is to make sure the people of the state of Florida are protected.  I'm not going to hesitate to sue anybody whether they are a pharmaceutical company or otherwise."