Whether it concerns a PPP or EIDL loan, a federal contract or grant, or Medicare or Medicaid billing — if the Department of Justice, the SBA, or an Inspector General is questioning your certifications under the False Claims Act, talk with a defense attorney before you respond.
A full-service firm established in 1933. Tax controversy and white-collar attorneys serving organizations across the East Coast.
These letters and demands are recognizable. Look for:
If your letter uses this language, you may be dealing with a civil False Claims Act inquiry. It can carry deadlines, and how you respond now may shape the entire matter.
We answer DOJ letters, civil investigative demands, and agency subpoenas within the deadline they set.
The loan, contract, or claims at issue, and the certifications and eligibility rules that applied to you.
Materiality under Universal Health Services v. Escobar, good-faith reliance, and the reasonable basis for the certifications you made.
Negotiate a resolution and address any related tax, overpayment, or suspension and debarment exposure.
Whiteford is a full-service firm established in 1933. Our tax controversy, white-collar, government-contracts, and healthcare attorneys defend organizations and individuals in SBA, IRS, Department of Justice, and Inspector General matters across the East Coast. We handle the government while you keep running your organization.
Tell us about the letter or demand you received.
We review the loan, contract, or claims at issue and the rules that applied to you.
We manage the communication with the government and pursue a resolution.
A CID is a formal government demand for documents, written answers, or testimony during a civil investigation. It carries a compliance deadline and is often the first formal step in a False Claims Act matter.
Usually civil, though civil and criminal reviews can sometimes run in parallel. Which posture your matter is in is one of the first things an attorney will help you understand.
Under the Supreme Court's Escobar decision, an alleged violation must be material to the government's payment decision. Whether a claimed non-compliance actually mattered to payment is often central to the defense.
Many False Claims Act cases begin as sealed qui tam complaints filed by an insider. Counsel can help you respond to the government's investigation and manage the related employment and retaliation issues.
Your letter or civil investigative demand states a deadline. Do not miss it, and do not respond before you have spoken with counsel.
Not before you have counsel. Returning funds or volunteering explanations can affect your position. Let an attorney assess the situation and manage contact with the government first.
Civil False Claims Act liability can include up to three times the government's damages, plus a civil penalty of $14,308 to $28,619 for each false claim. These matters are most often resolved on more favorable terms at the earliest stage.
Last updated: April 2026
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