The nonprofit organization American Association of Retired Persons has decided to join a Dallas qui tam False Claims Act case as co-counsel against three pharmaceutical companies, according to a news report by The American Lawyer.
Kevin Colquitt, a former sales representative at Guidant, which is part of Boston Scientific and Abbott Laboratories, filed the whistleblower lawsuit again Abbott, Cordis and Boston Scientific in 2006. Mr. Colquitt says the three pharmaceutical companies allegedly deceived the Food and Drug Administration to receive approval for biliary stents, which the companies proceeded to illegally market its off-label use as vascular stents. The companies have also been accused of paying illegal kickbacks in the form of discounted purchasing contracts to healthcare providers who chose to use the biliary stents as unapproved vascular stents, according to the report.
Abbott, Cordis and Boston Scientific say it is common knowledge among the public that biliary stents are used for vascular purposes, according to the report.
Although the Department of Justice did not show any intention of intervening in the whistleblower case, DOJ prosecutors recently filed a notice of interest, arguing against some of the defense's points for the case's dismissal, according to the report.
Read The American Lawyer's news report about the FCA lawsuit against Abbott, Cordis and Boston Scientific.
Read other coverage about false claims act lawsuits:
- CHRISTUS Health in Houston to Pay $1M Settlement in Medicare Fraud Lawsuit
- Whistleblower in WellCare Fraud Case Seeks to Bar Florida Attorney General in Lawsuit
Kevin Colquitt, a former sales representative at Guidant, which is part of Boston Scientific and Abbott Laboratories, filed the whistleblower lawsuit again Abbott, Cordis and Boston Scientific in 2006. Mr. Colquitt says the three pharmaceutical companies allegedly deceived the Food and Drug Administration to receive approval for biliary stents, which the companies proceeded to illegally market its off-label use as vascular stents. The companies have also been accused of paying illegal kickbacks in the form of discounted purchasing contracts to healthcare providers who chose to use the biliary stents as unapproved vascular stents, according to the report.
Abbott, Cordis and Boston Scientific say it is common knowledge among the public that biliary stents are used for vascular purposes, according to the report.
Although the Department of Justice did not show any intention of intervening in the whistleblower case, DOJ prosecutors recently filed a notice of interest, arguing against some of the defense's points for the case's dismissal, according to the report.
Read The American Lawyer's news report about the FCA lawsuit against Abbott, Cordis and Boston Scientific.
Read other coverage about false claims act lawsuits:
- CHRISTUS Health in Houston to Pay $1M Settlement in Medicare Fraud Lawsuit
- Whistleblower in WellCare Fraud Case Seeks to Bar Florida Attorney General in Lawsuit