In an issue of first impression, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that a rogue corporate officer’s fraudulent intent can be imputed to a corporation even where the defrauding officer acted against the corporation’s interest, known as the “adverse interest exception.” In re ChinaCast Educ. Corp. Sec. Litig., — F.3d –, 2015 WL 6405680, at *5 (9th Cir. Oct. 23, 2015). In so holding, the Ninth Circuit created “an exception to the exception” – when an innocent third party relies on a defrauding officer’s apparent authority, the officer’s fraud can be imputed to the corporation even if that fraud was adverse to the corporation’s interest.
Continue Reading Ninth Circuit Severely Limits “Rogue Employee” Exception for Corporations in Securities Fraud Cases
Scienter
Common Sense Prevails Once Again: District Court FCA Ruling Serves As Reminder That Whistleblowers Need to Prove Recklessness Too
By Sheppard Mullin on
Posted in False Claims, FCA, Federal Supply Schedule, GSA Schedule, Qui Tam, Recklessness, Relator, Scienter, TAA, Trade Agreements Act
By Christopher Loveland and Jonathan Aronie
While multi-million dollar False Claims Act (FCA) settlements paid by Government contractors get the lion’s share of the press, those with an attentive eye will have noticed a recent steady stream of more “contractor friendly” FCA decisions flying just under the national press’s radar. These cases, all arising in the context of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule program, serve as timely reminders that the FCA is not a blank check for opportunistic relators (plaintiffs/whistleblowers), and that relators must be in possession of facts actually supporting their allegations before walking into court. [1]Continue Reading Common Sense Prevails Once Again: District Court FCA Ruling Serves As Reminder That Whistleblowers Need to Prove Recklessness Too