Facing a False Claims Act investigation? Act before the government does.
The Justice Department is now fast-tracking whistleblower fraud cases against federally funded benefits programs, and referring them for parallel criminal review. If you have received a civil investigative demand, a subpoena, or contact from a federal agent, the decisions you make in the first weeks matter most.
- Civil investigative demands, subpoenas, and sealed qui tam (whistleblower) complaints
- Healthcare and Medicaid providers, contractors, grantees, and businesses touching federal benefit dollars
- Parallel civil and criminal exposure, managed by one defense team
- Confidential case assessment, usually returned the same day
What you get from the first call.
Rapid response while it still matters
False Claims Act cases often begin under seal, before you know you are a target. We move immediately on civil investigative demands, subpoenas, and agent contact to protect privilege and preserve your options.
Independent internal investigation
We reconstruct what actually happened, quantify your potential exposure, and separate honest billing or eligibility errors from the conduct the government treats as fraud, before the government frames that narrative for you.
Civil and criminal exposure, one team
The Civil Division now refers new benefits-fraud matters for parallel criminal review. We manage both tracks together so a civil settlement does not become a criminal admission, and so nothing you say in one proceeding is used against you in the other.
Advocacy at the decision points
The government's early choices, whether to intervene, keep investigating, or dismiss the case, shape everything that follows. We make your case directly to the decision-makers during that narrow window.
Direct access to your attorney.
Offices that handle this work
Active in 8 jurisdictions. Physical offices in 7 of them.
Wilmington
Suite 300
Wilmington, DE19801
Washington, DC
Suite 450N
Washington, DC20036
Baltimore
Suite 1500
Baltimore, MD21202
Columbia
Suite 400
Columbia, MD21045
Towson
One West Pennsylvania Avenue
Towson, MD21204-5025
Richmond
Suite 2001
Richmond, VA23219
Virginia Beach
Suite 300-91
Virginia Beach, VA23462
No offices in that state yet. Federal matters are handled from any office.
What taxpayers ask before the first call.
What is a False Claims Act 'qui tam' case?
The False Claims Act lets a private whistleblower, called a relator, often a competitor, employee, or insider, file a fraud complaint on the government's behalf. It is filed under seal, so the target usually does not know about it at first. The Justice Department then reviews the case and decides whether to take it over, keep investigating, or dismiss it. A successful relator can collect a share of whatever the government recovers.
What changed with the DOJ's new fast-track policy?
In May 2026 the Civil Division announced it will review whistleblower complaints alleging fraud against federally funded, state-administered benefits programs within 60 to 120 days, far faster than before, and refer new matters to the Criminal Division and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to evaluate potential criminal charges. There is now far less time between a complaint being filed and the government acting on it.
Who is at risk?
Any person or business that bills, certifies, or receives money tied to federally funded, state-administered programs. That includes healthcare and Medicaid providers, government contractors and grant recipients, and companies working in housing, food, and cash-assistance programs. Billing errors, eligibility mistakes, and aggressive interpretations of the rules can all draw scrutiny under the False Claims Act.
What are the penalties?
The government can recover up to three times its actual damages, plus a civil penalty for each false claim, which adds up quickly when many claims are involved. Parallel criminal charges can carry additional fines and prison exposure. Early, well-documented defense work can be what keeps a civil matter from becoming a criminal one.
I just received a civil investigative demand or a subpoena. What should I do?
Do not produce documents, speak with investigators, or start deleting or reorganizing files before you have counsel. What you say and hand over in the first weeks can define the rest of the case. Call a defense attorney first, preserve everything exactly as it is, and let counsel manage all contact with the government.
Will you work with our existing lawyers?
Yes. We can serve as dedicated fraud-defense counsel alongside your regular attorneys, and coordinate with any parallel civil, criminal, or tax representation so your strategy stays consistent across every front.