Supreme Court Considers Fraud Claim in Internet Subsidy Case

Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical of Wisconsin Bell’s claim that overbilling alleged by a whistleblower does not fall under the federal False Claims Act (FCA).
The assertion was raised during oral arguments on Nov. 4 in Wisconsin Bell Inc. v. United States ex rel. Heath.
Whistleblower Todd Heath, an auditor, sued on behalf of the federal government.
Sometimes called the Lincoln Law, the FCA was enacted in 1863 to deal with defense contractor fraud during the Civil War.
Anyone who knowingly files false claims with the government is liable for triple damages plus a $2,000 penalty for each false claim.
The E-Rate program assists schools and libraries in procuring affordable broadband, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says….