Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-02880/USCOURTS-cand-4_14-cv-02880-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 375
Nature of Suit: False Claims Act
Cause of Action: 31:3729 False Claims Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL O'CONNELL,

Plaintiff,

v.

REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF 

CALIFORNIA,

Defendant.

Case No. 14-cv-02880-HSG 

ORDER DISMISSING CASE

Michael O’Connell filed a qui tam suit under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et 

seq, against the Regents of the University of California (“Defendant” or “Regents”). In his

amended complaint, O’Connell alleges that Defendant made “knowingly false records or 

statements material to an obligation to pay or transmit money to the U.S. Department of Energy” 

and “knowingly present[ed] false claims for payment or approval to the Department of Energy.” 

Dkt. No. 18. 

On June 10, 2015, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California

declined to intervene and suggested that the Court issue an order to show cause (“OSC”) why the 

action should not be dismissed in view of Vermont Agency of Nat. Res. v. United States ex rel. 

Stevens, 529 U.S. 765 (2000). The Court issued the OSC on June 11, 2015, Dkt. No. 17, and 

O’Connell responded on August 7. Dkt. No. 19. 

Having reviewed O’Connell’s complaint and OSC response, the Court finds that this action 

must be dismissed as a matter of law. While “a private individual has standing to bring suit in 

federal court on behalf of the United States” under the False Claims Act, a state or state agency 

cannot be subject to liability in such actions. Stevens, 529 U.S. at 787-88 (citation omitted). The 

Ninth Circuit has held that the Regents are a state entity. See Donald v. Univ. of Ca. Bd. of 

Regents, 329 F.3d 1040, 1044 (9th Cir. 2003); Armstrong v. Meyers, 964 F.2d 948, 949-50 (9th 

Case 4:14-cv-02880-HSG Document 21 Filed 12/02/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Cir. 1992) (“The Regents, a corporation created by the California constitution, is an arm of the 

state for Eleventh Amendment purposes, and therefore is not a ‘person’ within the meaning of 

section 1983.”); Doe v. Lawrence Livermore Nat’l Lab., 131 F.3d 836, 839 (9th Cir. 1997) 

(holding that Regents act as an arm of the state when managing Livermore Laboratory). Because

Defendant is a state entity, the False Claims Act does not provide for a private right of action. 

Accordingly, the case is DISMISSED with prejudice as to O’Connell. The Clerk is 

directed to close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

________________________

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Judge

12/2/2015

Case 4:14-cv-02880-HSG Document 21 Filed 12/02/15 Page 2 of 2