Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/37666723/Karron-MSJ-Reply
Timestamp: 2019-08-20 11:39:04
Document Index: 188172586

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 666', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 14', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 14', '§ 666', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 3729', '§ 666']

Karron MSJ Reply | Damages | Evidence
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08 Civ. 10223 (NRB) (DFE)
Email: michael.byars@usdoj.gov
I. Karron Is Liable Under the FCA Based on Collateral Estoppel ..........................................2
II. Contrary to Karron’s Claim, the Government’s Requested Damages Award Does Not
Violate Her Constitutional Rights ........................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................................................9
Allison Engine Co. v. United States ex rel. Sanders,
128 S. Ct. 2123 (2008) .........................................................................................................5
538 U.S. 119 (2003) .............................................................................................................8
522 U.S. 93 (1997) ...............................................................................................................8
Morse v. Commissioner,
419 F.3d 829 (8th Cir. 2005) ...............................................................................................7
Morse Diesel Int’l, Inc. v. United States,
79 Fed. Cl. 116 (2007) .........................................................................................................8
United States ex rel. Kirk v. Schindler Elevator Corp.,
601 F.3d 94 (2d Cir. 2010)...................................................................................................5
United States ex rel. Loughren v. Unum Group,
613 F.3d 300 (1st Cir. 2010) ................................................................................................5
10 F.3d 1553 (11th Cir. 1994) .........................................................................................7, 8
United States v. Brekke,
97 F.3d 1043 (8th Cir. 1996) ...............................................................................................8
United States v. Halper,
490 U.S. 435 (1989) .............................................................................................................8
140 F.3d 630 (6th Cir. 1998) ...............................................................................................4
Fed. R. Evid. 702 .............................................................................................................................2
18 U.S.C. § 666 ............................................................................................................................4, 6
31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1) .................................................................................................................3, 5
31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(B) ...........................................................................................................3, 5
31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(2) .....................................................................................................................5
31 U.S.C. § 3729(b)(1)(B) ...............................................................................................................5
Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-21 .....................................................5
15 C.F.R. § 14.52 .............................................................................................................................3
The Government, by its attorney, Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern
District of New York, respectfully submits this reply memorandum of law in further support of
its Motion and in response to defendant’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Plaintiff’s
Motion for Summary Judgment (the “Opposition” or “Opp’n”). 1
The Government’s motion comprises two straightforward issues. First, the motion
invokes the FCA’s estoppel provision and common law estoppel to preclude Karron from
contesting her liability for civil damages under the FCA due to her criminal conviction. Karron
was convicted of intentionally misapplying project funds to purposes that she knew were
unauthorized under the terms and conditions of the Cooperative Agreement. Inherent in that jury
verdict is a finding that her sworn certifications of compliance with those terms and conditions
were knowingly false. Second, the uncontested facts support an award under the FCA of treble
damages based on the amount of the project funding received, plus penalties. Contrary to
Karron’s claim, she is not entitled to an offset for a purported “benefit” to the Government from
Plaintiff’s Rule 56.1 statement demonstrates the extent of the false statements made by
Karron in furtherance of her improper uses of project funds. Karron has failed to contest
substantially all of, or to cite to admissible evidence that contradicts, plaintiff’s Rule 56.1
statement. See 56.1 Counterstatement ¶¶ 1-20; 22-31. The bulk of Karron’s opposition, which
has been amended to comprise over 1,500 pages and reference segments of a three-plus-hour
videotape, is irrelevant to this motion. Karron and, in particular, declarant Deborah A. Dunlevy
principally seek to relitigate the issue of whether Karron intentionally misapplied funds, an issue
Unless otherwise noted, terms capitalized herein bear the meanings given in the
Government’s June 18, 2010 Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for
Summary Judgment (the “Opening Brief” or “Opening Br.”).
already decided by a criminal jury. See, e.g., Opp’n 10 (“Defendant’s main evidence is forensic
analysis of hard numbers taken from the criminal trial”); 56.1 Counterstatement at 2 (purporting
to list the “most basic fiscal questions” to be answered through “ground truth” forensic
reconstruction); Declaration of Deborah A. Dunlevy (“Dunlevy Declaration” or “Dunlevy
Decl.”) 3 ¶ 1, 8 ¶ 31 (purporting to provide the Court with a “comprehensive forensic
reconstruction” accounting for how “every penny” was spent on the CASI project). 2 Thus, the
facts in plaintiff’s 56.1 statement must be deemed admitted.
Karron is therefore civilly liable for treble damages of $4,036,500 in treble damages and
penalties of between $110,000 and $220,000 at the Court’s discretion pursuant to the FCA,
subject to a reduction for any restitution payments in the criminal case.
I. KARRON IS LIABLE UNDER THE FCA BASED ON COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL
Karron is estopped from contesting her civil liability under the FCA and common law.
She cannot deny the finding in her criminal trial, beyond a reasonable doubt, that she “without
authority intentionally misapplied . . . money under the control of CASI knowing that such use
[was] unauthorized or unjustifiable or wrongful . . . .” Trial Tr. at 1351:14-20 (jury charge).
This finding was essential to the criminal judgment of conviction and must be given effect here.
See Opening Br. 12-16. It precludes Karron from contesting the falsity of her certifications, in
financial reports required by and submitted to the Government, that “all outlays” or “all
disbursements” were made in compliance with, inter alia, the conditions of the Cooperative
Dunlevy admits that she is not a fact witness and has no personal knowledge of the
CASI Project. See Dunlevy Decl. ¶ 6 (“I was not involved with Karron or Computer Aided
Surgery or CASI in any way during the NIST ATP project period, or afterward until sometime in
2004.”). With this reply, the Government is submitting a pre-motion letter pursuant to paragraph
2.A of the Court’s individual practices seeking leave to file a motion to strike the Dunlevy
Declaration for non-compliance with Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence.
Agreement or award documents. See 56.1 Statement ¶ 22; see also Chukran Decl. ¶¶ 4, 8, 12 &
Exs. B, C, D. As FCA liability can arise from a “false” claim, see 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)
(2003); id. § 3729(a)(1)(B), there is no requirement that the criminal jury have found fraud, as
Karron alleges, see Opp’n 16.
Karron’s attempts to contest her civil liability by attacking the financial reports attached
to the Chukran Declaration are unavailing. With respect to the Federal Cash Transactions
Reports, Karron argues that these forms are not material because in July 2002 the ATP excused
CASI from having to file that form, see 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 22, but she cannot dispute that
the Forms SF272 were false when they were submitted during the period prior to July 2002,
when they were required. With respect to the Financial Status Reports, Karron complains that
the Government included Forms SF269A, rather than Forms SF269, see 56.1 Counterstatement
¶ 22, but does not contest that she filed both types of forms. 3 Moreover, the Forms SF269A that
were originally submitted (and certified) inaccurately claimed a cost-share, as is evidenced by
the new versions submitted after the project was shut down, each of which listed the cost-share
as zero. Compare Chukran Ex. D (line 10(b) on each Form 269A) with GX 40A, 41A, 42A, 43A
(line 10(i) on each Form 269). 4 With respect to the Request for Advance or Reimbursement,
Karron poses only a limited challenge to the first Form SF270, arguing that the certification can
be false only if there has been prior spending, but admits that she sought this first payment as a
cash advance for reimbursement of unapproved costs. See 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 24.
In certain cases, Form SF269A may be used instead of Form SF269. See 15 C.F.R.
§ 14.52. By restricting its submission to only the four Forms SF269A, the Government seeks
civil damages only once for the same type of financial report for the same time period.
In her opposition papers, Karron submits two different revisions to those revisions,
somehow adding in cost-share information. See 56.1 Counterstatement at 35, table 1 (reflecting
a total “Recipient share of outlays” for year one of $29,493); Karron Decl. Exhibit Group 2
pages 39 to 46 of 217 (reflecting a total “Recipient share of outlays” for year one of $78,204).
Moreover, the parties’ submissions on this motion further establish the falsity of these
certifications. Karron does not contest the testimony that she diverted $75,000 of the initial
$150,000 draw-down for the payment of personal debts, see 56.1 Statement ¶ 28, but argues only
that the $75,000 amount was a bona fide salary advance, see 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 28. The
evidence she cites, however, does not address the issue of a salary advance. 5 See GX114;
Sentencing Tr. 7:15-18. Evidence at the criminal trial established that Karron incurred over
$120,000 in unauthorized expenses for non-budgeted categories during year one of the project.
56.1 Statement ¶ 30 (citing GX114). While Karron admits that this evidence served as the basis
for her $120,000 criminal restitution amount (and concedes that this amount corresponds to
“inappropriate expenses,” Opp’n 22 n.33), she contests GX114’s accuracy by referencing only
the 860 pages of exhibits to the Dunleavy Declaration, see 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 30, and fails
to cite any specific admissible evidence showing that these expenditures, see GX114, were
authorized or within the approved budget. Karron’s admission that her very first report included
“out of budget” costs, 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 24, runs counter to the Cooperative Agreement’s
explicit requirement of prior written approval for the creation of “new budget categories,” GX2
at 3 ¶ 9. Evidence at the criminal trial also showed that Karron had failed to enter into the
promised subcontract with CUNY, even though that subcontract (representing 25% of the federal
funding for year one and more than 20% of the total federal funding) was included in Karron’s
July 6, 2001 ATP submission. See 56.1 Statement ¶¶ 11, 31; GX10. That submission was a
Defendant’s reliance on United States v. Mills, see 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 28 n.21, is
unavailing. In Mills, the Sixth Circuit held that § 666’s bona fide salary exception applied
because there was no proof that certain salaries paid were not properly earned in the usual course
of business; thus, the FCA claims failed. 140 F.3d 630, 633-34 (6th Cir. 1998). Here, by
contrast, the Government has come forward with admissible evidence establishing that the
payments to Karron were improper because they were not used for their approved purpose, see,
e.g., 56.1 Statement ¶ 22, and Karron does not point to admissible evidence that the payment was
authorized or within the budget.
material part of the Cooperative Agreement: “All research shall be conducted in accordance
with[, inter alia,] the Recipient’s proposal dated 07/06/01.” GX13 ¶ 5. Karron argues that the
subcontract was only a proposal and her decision not to enter into it was properly within her
discretion, see 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 11, but points to no admissible evidence that the
subcontract budget item was removed.
Nor can Karron contest her knowledge of the falsity of her certifications. It is
undisputable that Karron “knowingly present[ed], or caus[ed] to be presented, to an officer or
employee of the United States Government a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval”
and thus is liable under former § 3729(a)(1). United States ex rel. Kirk v. Schindler Elevator
Corp., 601 F.3d 94, 113 (2d Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted).
Section 3729(a)(1)(B), as amended, which applies here under Kirk, 6 establishes Karron’s liability
for “knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement
material to a false or fraudulent claim.” Id. (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted).
“[N]o proof of specific intent to defraud” is required to state a claim under the FCA. 31 U.S.C.
§ 3729(b)(1)(B).
Kirk interprets FERA’s amendments retroactively to apply to all FCA cases pending on
or after June 7, 2008. See Kirk, 601 F.3d at 113 (applying current § 3729(a)(1)(B) in case filed
before, and still pending on, June 7, 2008). As Karron notes, Opp’n 23-24, some courts outside
the Second Circuit have taken the view that FERA’s amendments apply only where the FCA
action concerns claims for government funds that were pending on June 7, 2008. See United
States ex rel. Loughren v. Unum Group, 613 F.3d 300, ____, n.7, 2010 WL 2951175, at *5 n.7
(1st Cir. 2010) (collecting cases). However, even if the Second Circuit had adopted the more
restrictive view of FERA retroactivity, Karron still would be liable under former § 3729(a)(2)
because her false certifications were made directly to the Government and not to a subcontractor.
See 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(2) (2006), amended by FERA, Pub. L. 111-21, 123 Stat. 1617 (2009).
There is thus no question that the Government seeks to hold Karron “answerable [only] for . . .
the natural, ordinary and reasonable consequences of [her] conduct.” Allison Engine Co. v.
United States ex rel. Sanders, 128 S. Ct. 2123, 2130 (2008) (internal quotation marks omitted).
See also Loughren, 613 F.3d at ____ n.7, 2010 WL 2951175, at *5 n.7 (“There is no question in
this case that [defendant] caused the statements at issue to be made directly to the government;
thus Allison Engine’s intent requirement and its abrogation by FERA, are not relevant here”).
Karron has no support for her bald assertion that her knowledge of the falsity of the
financial reports is not established by the jury’s finding that she knew she was misapplying CASI
funds. Her assertion is based solely on her claim that the financial statements in question contain
technical errors that “obviate anyone ‘knowing’ anything at all.” Opp’n 9.
By contrast, the Government has shown that Karron knew that the financial reports, and
her certifications thereof, were false. See 56.1 Statement ¶ 25. Gurfein testified that Karron had
directed him to “just submit numbers [on the quarterly financial statements] that will make it
work” and not “raise any red flags,” even though “that money was not spent on the grant.” Trial
Tr. 664:6-14. These numbers were “the aggregate of what was in the monthly applications for
. . . the various progress payments” and did not reflect actual expenses. Id. 663:22-664:3.
Gurfein also testified that Karron admitted using $75,000 of the first $150,000 for unapproved
personal expenses. See 56.1 Statement ¶ 28. While Karron argues that this expenditure, if
considered bona fide salary, would not be part of a § 666 violation, she does not point to
admissible evidence supporting any proper use of the $75,000. See 56.1 Counterstatement ¶¶ 28-
29 (claiming only that she had “tacit permission” from the agency and referencing trial testimony
premised on proper accounting of expenditures according to the approved budget). See also
GX2 at 3 ¶ 9 (requiring prior written approval for new budget categories). Moreover, plaintiff
provided admissible evidence of at least $120,000 in unauthorized expenditures in non-budgeted
categories during year one of the project. See 56.1 Statement ¶ 30. Karron responds only that
this evidence was improperly considered at the criminal trial, and does not specify any
admissible evidence establishing that her payment of $60,000 in back rent to herself, $9,832 in
fringe benefits, $11,248 in capital improvements, $5,019 in cleaning expenses and $43,592 in
other unauthorized categories was authorized or budgeted. See 56.1 Counterstatement ¶ 30; but
see Opp’n 28 (acknowledging that GX 114 was “evidence as to improper spending in project
year 1”).
II. CONTRARY TO KARRON’S CLAIM, THE GOVERNMENT’S REQUESTED
DAMAGES AWARD DOES NOT VIOLATE HER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Nor is there any support for Karron’s argument that damages of $4,036,500 – i.e., based
on trebling the $1,345,500 in federal funds admittedly drawn down, see 56.1 Counterstatement
¶¶ 9, 21, 27 – and civil fines of from $110,000 to $220,000 7 would violate the Constitution
because this would dwarf the amount of her criminal restitution, Opp’n 10. Contrary to Karron’s
claim, the analysis of whether a damages amount violates the Constitution depends on the
amount of the loss, not on the amount of the restitution.
As Karron recognizes, see Opp’n 27 (“A finding of criminal restitution does not limit,
cap, or set a floor for FCA damages.”), the amount of restitution set forth in a criminal judgment
of conviction does not limit the damages and penalties that can be claimed by the Government in
a subsequent civil case. See, e.g., Morse v. Commissioner, 419 F.3d 829, 834 (8th Cir. 2005);
United States v. Barnette, 10 F.3d 1553, 1556 (11th Cir. 1994). Rather, as the Government
already has noted, “[t]he starting point for the calculation of the initial damages amount (i.e.,
prior to trebling) is the total amount fraudulently obtained.” Opening Br. 18. The parties are in
agreement here that the total amount received by Karron from the Government was $1,345,500.
See 56.1 Counterstatement ¶¶ 9, 21, 27. Although under certain circumstances, an offset may be
appropriate to reflect the Government’s receipt of the “benefit of its bargain,” those
circumstances are not present here. See Opening Br. 18-24.
As noted in the Opening Brief, the Court has discretion to determine the appropriate penalty
amount within the range of $5,500 to $11,000 per false statement based on such factors as the
seriousness of the misconduct, the scienter of the defendant and the amount of damages. The
maximum statutory civil penalty may be awarded where, as here, the defendant’s fraudulent acts
were intentional, occurred on more than one occasion and resulted in significant damages to the
Government. See Opening Br. 25.
Courts have determined that the FCA’s treble damages provision is consistent with the
Constitution, on the ground, among others, that such a damages ceiling evinces a remedial
purpose. See, e.g., Cook County v. United States ex rel. Chandler, 538 U.S. 119, 130-32 & n.9
(2003); United States v. Brekke, 97 F.3d 1043, 1048 (8th Cir. 1996); Morse Diesel Int’l, Inc. v.
United States, 79 Fed. Cl. 116, 126-28 (2007). After the addition of penalties of from $110,000
to $220,000 above the treble damages amount, the maximum total requested is only 3.16 times
the amount drawn down. This is within accepted constitutional limits. See, e.g., Barnette, 10
F.3d at 1559-60 (“[A] 3.2 to 1 ratio simply does not lack a rational relation to the Government’s
loss. Instead, such a ratio is very close to a fixed penalty roughly proportionate to the damage
caused plus double damages.” (internal quotation marks, alterations and citations omitted)).
Karron’s invocation of United States v. Halper, 490 U.S. 435, 448-49 (1989), is unavailing
because that decision was abrogated by Hudson v. United States, 522 U.S. 93, 100-01 (1997),
and, in any event, the Halper Court’s concern arose because plaintiff’s civil liability in that case
was driven by the relatively high number of false statements, rather than the trebling of actual
damages, as here, see Hudson, 522 U.S. at 100 (“Given Halper’s 65 separate violations of the
Act, he appeared to be liable for a penalty of $130,000, despite the fact he actually defrauded the
Government of less than $600.”). Karron’s reliance on non-FCA case law dealing with damages
or fine calculations that are unmoored to a treble damages ceiling is inapposite. See Opp’n 33-
For the reasons set forth above and in the Government’s opening brief, the Government’s
motion for summary judgment should be granted as to Karron’s liability for treble damages of
$4,036,500 and a total civil penalty of between $110,000 and $220,000, subject to a reduction in
the amount of restitution paid.
By: s/ Michael J. Byars `
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