Berger & Montague PC issued the following announcement on Sept. 17.
Berger Montague is pleased to announce that the Texas A&M University Research Foundation has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve grant fraud claims under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). These claims were filed more than five years ago by two Research Foundation employees who worked in the compliance area.
Relators alleged fraud in connection with grant requirements or regulations, including time and effort reporting, a Texas state issue called “longevity” pay, cost sharing, NSF salary caps and transfers of residual funds. The claims pertained to grants issued from various federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, Department of Education, Department of Transportation, National Institute of Health, National Science Foundation and NASA. No claims under the FCA were brought against Texas A&M itself because it is a State agency and thus not subject to suit under the FCA.
For their role in reporting this fraud and providing invaluable assistance to the federal government in prosecuting these claims, the relators will share an award of $142,500.
Original source can be found here.