FCA relator sanctioned nearly $170,000 for improperly taking employer’s privileged

Courts historically have been hesitant, for public policy reasons, to sanction relators for taking their former employers’ confidential documents to support their FCA claims. However, in US ex rel. Ferris v. Afognak Native Corp., a US District Court Judge for the District of Alaska sanctioned a plaintiff almost $17,000 for doing just that. We look at the key elements defense counsel in FCA actions should focus on when faced with a qui tam relator who has purloined his or her employer’s privileged (or non-privileged but confidential) documents.

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