Texas False Claims Act Attorney & Investigation Defense
Federal Texas False Claims Act Investigation Defense Attorneys and Qui Tam Whistleblower Defense Lawyers – Help For Government Contractors, HealthCare Corporations and Professionals, and Individuals Throughout the USA to Avoid Civil Fines and Criminal Liability and Minimize Costly Legal Mistakes.
Texas False Claims Act lawyers Serve Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonia, Wichita Falls, and surrounding metro areas.
(call a False Claims Act attorney at our toll-free number 1(866-601-5518) for immediate help.
FEDERAL PROCUREMENT | CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMANDS | HEALTHCARE FRAUD | PPP LOAN DEFENSE | BUY AMERICAN ACT | TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT | SUBPOENAS | QUI TAM DEFENSE | INDICTMENTS | FEDERAL CRIMINAL TRIALS | WHITE COLLAR DEFENSE
Watson & Associates, LLC offers top federal civil and criminal defense lawyers who understand the underlying issues in a federal Texas False Claims Act case. We help clients from the initial investigative stage through indictment and trial. If you are reading this page, you are probably at a critical stage in your life where you are either under federal investigation, indicted or need aggressive trial defense attorneys. In either situation, you don’t have time to waste.
Your constitutional rights and legal defenses to fight back. The earlier you act, the better your chances. Federal prosecutors tend not to try to resolve matters the closer they get to trial.
If you are a federal contractor or involved in a health fraud or federal contract fraud or false claims act case, be sure to contact us immediately
Federal False Claims Act – Key Things to Know
The Federal False Claims Act (FCA) applies to individuals, businesses, and federal government contractors who directly or indirectly are involved with a federal government contract, grant, healthcare program, PPP Loan, or other method of receiving payment or benefit from the government.
Federal prosecutors have to show that you knowingly submit or cause the submission of a false claim for payment or approval by the federal government. For government contractors, it could mean submitting an invoice for payment, submitting a bid, or even certifying information to be admitted into SBA small business programs. The False Act Act also applies to healthcare professionals and applicants for the SBA PPP loan.
Federal prosecutors will present a case suggesting that, regardless of your legal defense, you should have known about the False Claim. Under the FCA, actual knowledge is not required.
GET A FREE CONFIDENTIAL FCA DEFENSE CHECKLIST HERE
Legal Defense for Federal Government Contractors in Texas
Small businesses and large defense contractors alike face extreme scrutiny when they provide construction or services to the federal government. When you receive a False Claims Act civil investigative demand from the DOJ or OIG, or some other law enforcement agency, our a. Texas False Claims Act attorney at our firm can help. We represent various types of procurement clients, including:
- SBA 8(a) small. Businesses
- Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOSB)
- SBA HUBZone Small businesses
- Prime Contractors
- Subcontractors
- Corporate CEOs
- Manufacturers
- Health Care Agencies
- Buy American Act (BAA compliance) fraud
- Trade Agreements Act False Claims defense
- Bid rigging
- Whistleblower / Qui Tam defense
- False medical invoices and treatment
What is Buy American Act False Claims Fraud?
A federal government contractor in Texas can defraud the Government by knowingly providing goods that were procured in violation of the Buy American Act and the U.S. Trade Agreements Act, if the Government would not have purchased the goods from that contractor if it had known of the violations. Whistleblowers can help fight Buy American Act fraud by filing a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act. Watson & Associates offers experienced lawyers who understand procurement laws and how the BAA applies to FCA cases. See 41 U.S.C.A. §10a-d. and FAR Part 25.
U.S. Trade Agreements Act Procurement Fraud Help
Government suppliers entering into Multiple Award Schedule GSA contracts to sell products to federal government purchasers under the Federal Supply Schedule must agree to comply with the U.S. Trade Agreements Act of 1979, 19 U.S.C. § 2501, et. seq. Under the terms of TAA compliance requirements, manufacturers, prime contractors, subcontractors, or vendors who sell foreign-made products to the United States Government are required to only sell such products that are made or “substantially transformed” in countries with reciprocal trade agreements with the United States. When those rules are violated, OIG or DOJ may initiate an FCA case against you. This is where our TexasTrade Agreements Act fFalse Claims Act attorney can help.
What are Civil and Criminal Penalties Under the False Claims Act?
If you are a government contractor, healthcare professional, or corporation in Texas or an individual investigated for violating the False Claims Act, you can be subject to both civil and criminal penalties. Sometimes, you may receive a civil investigative demand (CID) from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), or the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleging violations of the False Claims Act. If you are under investigation and you need reliable legal representation, call the Texas False Claims Act lawyers at Watson & Associates, LLC.
You are exposed to the following civil penalties:
- Treble damages (damages that are three times more than the amount that the claim is worth)
- A fine of up to $11,000 per false claim
- State disciplinary proceedings
- Loss of your professional license (health care, construction, or other
- Suspension and debarment
- You could be ordered to pay attorneys’ fees for the federal government
You can also be exposed to criminal False Claims Act penalties which could be:
- Criminal indictment
- Prison time
- A fine of $250,000 per claim for individuals for federal felony convictions
- A fine of $500,000 per claim for businesses for federal felony convictions
- A fine of $100,000 per claim for individuals for a misdemeanor conviction
- A fine of $200,000 per claim for businesses for a misdemeanor conviction
Federal Whistleblower Qui Tam Defense Lawyers in Texas
Federal False Claims Act investigations or lawsuits in Texas can be initiated by a filing by a whistleblower or Qui Relator. A relator could be a former or current employee, another contractor, or some other interested party.
These cases are filed under seal and not released to the public. At Watson & Associates, LLC, our False Claims Act Qui Tam defense lawyers help government contractors, defendants in the healthcare industry, CEOs, and individuals charged or investigated under the False Claims Act.
Help With False Claims Act Civil Investigative Demands or Subpoenas
Federal law enforcement agencies, such as OIG, DEA, DOJ, DHHS, or IRS, may issue subpoenas or civil investigative demands for your financial, billing, corporate, communication, and other records. Whether you receive a civil investigative demand or a criminal subpoena, our DID lawyers can help.
We Aggressively Defend You in Federal Texas False Claims Act Investigations
The Texas False Claims Act investigation defense attorneys at Watson & Associates, LLC will initially contact the government to immediately develop the best possible legal defense for FCA investigations in Texas and throughout the United States. Whether you are investigated for procurement fraud, healthcare fraud, or some other basis for the investigation, we can help.
Texas Whistleblower Defense Health Care False Claims Act Lawyers
Antikickback defense/ FCA Attorney: Watson & Associates, LLC offers aggressive defense for healthcare providers and manufacturers in Texas. We represent hospitals in a federal investigation for antikickback allegations or indicted federally for FCA allegations. Our Texas healthcare FCA lawyers work with local counsel and will provide an experienced healthcare whistle blower defense attorney to defend your case aggressively.
Nationwide FCA Investigative Attorneys and Texas Qui Tam Whistleblower Defense Lawyers
At Watson & Associates, We Offer Top Federal False Claims Act Defense Attorneys Who Have Experience in Government Contracting
Understanding the False Claims statute is just the beginning. Given the risks of jail time in a criminal case or hefty fines in a civil false claims case, we understand the flaws that can be buried in a government investigation brought by the OIG or DOJ. As government investigation attorneys , will handle civil investigative demands and assist in responding to CID requests.
Why Choose Watson & Associates, LLC As Your Texas False Claims Act Attorney?
At Watson. & Associates, LLC, our law firm, has found that local federal criminal defense attorneys may not always be savvy or experienced in the various underlying allegations that trigger Texas False Claims Act cases. When you are contacted or even have a hunch that you are being targeted, call a False Claims Act attorney at Watson & Associates, LLC today.
This is especially true when the false claims allegation is triggered from the Buy American Act (BAA Compliance); Trade Agreements Act (TAA Compliance) or most of all violation of one the SBA small business programs (SBA 8(a)BD; SDVOSB Fraud; HUBZone Programs).
You will quickly find out that unless legal counsel has some experience in these areas, the government lawyers usually will prevail in a False Claims Act fraud case.
When the federal government prosecutor and investigators come knocking on your door with False Claims Act civil investigative demand (CID) requests, subpoenas, or indictments, the stakes are high; our Texas FCA attorneys can immediately step in and build an aggressive defense team. We represent clients that include:
- Fortune 500 companies
- Federal government contractors (large and small businesses)
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Medical device manufacturers
- Government construction companies
- Defense contractors for services
- Medical
- Biotechnology firms
- Hospitals
What are Examples of Violations Under the False Claims Act?
Although each case is fact-specific, some of the common violations under the False Claims Act include:
- Charging the government for work or products not provided;
- False certification and fraudulently acquiring a government contract;
- Submitting a false government loan application;
- Submitting a fraudulent application for a government grant;
- Demanding payment for goods or services that do not conform to contractual or regulatory requirements;
- Submitting false invoices for goods or services that are defective or of lesser quality than the. government contracted for;
- Submitting a claim that falsely certifies that the defendant has complied with a law, FAR or contract term, or Health Care regulation;
- Attempting to pay the government less than is owed.
- Representing that you are a small business when you are deemed other than small
- False certification for HUBZone, SDVOSB and SBA 8(a) BD Program contracts
IF YOU ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION, INDICTED / CHARGED, OR FACING TRIAL FOR FALSE CLAIMS ACT OR PROCUREMENT FRAUD – GET IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR DEFENSE HERE
As criminal and civil Texas False Claims Act lawyers and qui tam defense attorneys, we’re veterans of the government contracting marketplace. Our criminal and civil Federal Whistleblower Defense Lawyers understand government contract law (federal) and the issues that can lead to investigations, criminal indictments, and a jury conviction at trial.
Statewide Legal Representation
We also provide legal defense in TX Qui Tam and suspension and debarment cases. We understand the unique ethical complexities and regulations that government contractors face. Hire a Texas False Claims Act attorney who can serve Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Laredo, Lubbock, Garland, Irving, Amarillo, Grand Prairie, Brownsville, McKinney, Frisco, Pasadena, Mesquite, Killeen, McAllen, Carrollton, Midland, Waco, Denton, Abilene, Odessa, Beaumont, Round Rock, The Woodlands, Richardson, Pearland, College Station, Wichita Falls, Lewisville, Tyler, San Angelo, League City, Allen, Sugar Land, Edinburg, Mission, Longview, Bryan, Pharr, Baytown, Missouri City, Temple, Flower Mound, New Braunfels, North Richland Hills, Conroe, Victoria, Cedar Park, Harlingen, Atascocita, Mansfield, Georgetown, San Marcos, Rowlett, Pflugerville, Port Arthur, Spring, Euless, DeSoto, Grapevine, Galveston, and many more.
Contact Watson & Associates False Claims Act Defense Lawyer in Texas Today for a Free Consultation
If you are facing federal False Claims Act investigations in Texas or have concerns about potential FCA whistleblower liability or are looking for healthcare False Claims Act lawyers, do not hesitate to call our experienced federal defense attorneys. We are prepared to provide you with the guidance and support you need to navigate the complexities of FCA litigation and protect your business interests.
Call Watson’s Texas False Claims Act lawyers at 1.866.601.5518 for a Free Initial Consultation. Speak to Theodore Watson, Lead FCA Whistleblower defense lawyer.