Source: http://www.pjofca.com/qui-tam-false-claims-act/federal-and-state-false-claims-acts/maryland-false-claims-act/
Timestamp: 2017-10-23 13:31:23
Document Index: 774280153

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 5', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 14', '§ 2', '§ 2']

Maryland False Claims Act | Law Offices of Patrick J. O'Connell, PLLC
§ 2-601. Definitions.
(a) In general.- In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) Claim.-
(ii) Made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient, if the money or other prope1iy is to be spent or used on the State’s behalf or to advance a State interest through a State health plan or State health program, and the State:
(c) Documentary material.- “Documentary material” includes: (1) The original or a copy of:
(iii) Any index or other manner of access to any item listed in item (i) of this item. (d) Employee.- “Employee” means an individual who performs services:
(e) Employer.- “Employer” means a person or group of persons who, acting directly or indirectly on behalf of another person or group of persons:
(f) Knowing or knowingly.-
(g) Material.- “Material” means having a natural tendency to influence or be capable of influencing the payment or receipt of money or other property.
(h) Obligation.- “Obligation” means an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from: (1) An express or implied:
(i) Provider.- “Provider” has the meaning stated in § 2-501 of this title.
(G) Public body.- “Public body” means:
(k) Retaliatory action.- “Retaliatory action” means:
(1) State health plan.-
(m) State health program.- “State health program” means the Medical Assistance Program, the Cigarette Restitution Fund Program, the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Developmental Disabilities Administration, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, the Family Health Administration, the Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration, or any other unit of the Department that pays a provider for a service rendered or claimed to have been rendered to a recipient.
(n) Supervisor.- “Supervisor” means an individual within an employer’s organization who has the authority to:
[2010, ch. 4; ch. 72, § 5.]
§ 2-602. False or fraudulent claims.
(a) Prohibition.- A person may not:
(b) Civil penalty.-
(i) A civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation of subsection (a) of this section; and
(c) Civil penalty – Considerations.-
(d) Additional penalties.- The penalties provided in subsection (b) of this section are in addition to any criminal, civil, or administrative penalties provided under any other State or federal statute or regulation.
[2010, ch. 4.]
§ 2-603. Civil action.
(a) In general.- If the State finds that a person has violated or is violating § 2-602(a) of this subtitle, the
State may file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction within the State against the person. (b) Remedies allowed.- In filing a civil action under this section, the State may seek:
(1) The penalties provided under§ 2-602(b) of this subtitle; and
(2) Subject to the guidelines set forth in§ 2-605(a)(4) of this subtitle, court costs and attorney’s fees. [2010, ch. 4.]
§ 2-604. Private cause of action.
(1) (i) A person may file a civil action on behalf of the person and the State in a court of competent jurisdiction within the State against a person who has acted or is acting in violation of§ 2-602(a) of this subtitle.
(i) The penalties provided under§ 2-602(b) of this subtitle; and
(3) (i) The person shall serve on the State a copy of the complaint and a written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information that the person possesses, in accordance with the provisions of Title 2 of the Mary land Rules for serving process on the State.
(b) Intervention by State.-
(6) Limitations imposed by the court under paragraph (5) of this subsection may include: (i) A limitation on the number of witnesses the person may call to testify;
(ii) A limitation on the length of the testimony of witnesses called by the person; (iii) A limitation on the person’s cross-examination of witnesses; or
(iv) A limitation on the participation of the person in the litigation. (c) Alternative remedy.-
(d) Stay of discovery.-
(i) The State has pursued the criminal or civil investigation or proceeding with reasonable diligence;
§ 2-605. Private cause of action.- Award.
(b) Reduction of share of proceeds.-
(c) Reasonable attorney’s fees.- A court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses to a defendant and against the person initiating the action if:
§ 2-606. Private cause of action. – Restrictions.
(a) Actions against certain State officials.- No court in this State shall have jurisdiction over an action filed under § 2-604 of this subtitle against any member of the Legislative Branch or the Judiciary of the State, any member of the Governor’s Executive Council, the Attorney General, the Comptroller, or the State Treasurer if the action is based on evidence or information known to the State when the action was filed.
(b) Actions by current or former public employee or official.- A civil action may not be brought under this subtitle by a person who is or was a public employee or public official if the allegations of the action are based substantially on:
(c) Actions based on allegations in a civil suit in which State is a party.- A person may not bring an action under § 2-604 of this subtitle that is based on allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil suit or an administrative civil money penalty proceeding in which the State is already a party.
(d) Actions based on public disclosure of allegations.-
(e) State not liable for expenses.- The State is not liable for expenses that a person incurs in bringing an action under § 2-604 of this subtitle.
(f) Action by auditor, investigator, attorney, financial officer or contracting officer who is or was public employee.- A person who is or was employed by the State, a local government, or any other political subdivision of the State as an auditor, investigator, attorney, financial officer, or contracting officer may not bring an action under § 2-604 of this subtitle that is based on allegations or transactions that the person discovered or learned of while acting in the person’s capacity as an auditor, investigator, attorney, financial officer, or contracting officer for the State, local government, or other political subdivision of the State.
§ 2-607. Retaliatory action.
(a) Prohibition.- A person may not take a retaliatory action against an employee, contractor, or grantee because the employee, contractor, or grantee:
(b) Civil action,· remedies.-
(i) An injunction to restrain a continuing violation of subsection (a) of this section; (ii) Reinstatement to the same seniority status held before the retaliatory action; (iii) Reinstatement of full fringe benefits and seniority rights;
(v) Payment by the person of reasonable costs and attorney’s fees; (vi) Punitive damages;
(c) Exception.- This section does not apply to an employee as defined in § 1-501 of the Health Occupations Article or a State employee.
(d) Exception – Civil action or complaint.-
(2) A State employee who is subject to retaliatory action in violation of subsection (a) of this section may file a complaint under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Health Personnel and Pensions Article.
§ 2-608. Notice of protections and obligations.
§ 2-609. Procedural matters.
(a) Limitations period.- A civil action filed under this subtitle may not be filed after the later of:
(1) 6 years after the date on which the underlying violation of§ 2-602(a) of this subtitle occurred; or
(b) Action for activity that occurred prior to October 1, 2010.- A civil action may be filed under this subtitle for activity that occurred prior to October 1, 2010, if the limitations period under subsection (a) of this section has not lapsed.
(c) Procedure if State decides to intervene.- If the State elects to intervene and proceed with an action brought under this subtitle, the State, through the office of the Attorney General, may:
(d) Relation back of State pleading.- To the extent that the claim of the State arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth by a person, a State pleading relates back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action.
(e) Standard of proof- In an action filed under this subtitle, all essential elements of the cause of action, including damages, shall be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
(f) Estoppel.- Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of procedure or evidence in the Mary land Rules, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding charging fraud or false statements, whether on a verdict after trial or on a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, shall stop the defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action filed under this subtitle that involves the same act, transaction, or occurrence as in the criminal proceeding.
§ 2-610. In general.
(a) Remedy.- Any remedy provided under this subtitle is in addition to any other appropriate legal or equitable relief provided under any other applicable State or federal statute or regulation.
(b) Investigation.-
(c) Deposit of civil penalty into General Fund.- The Comptroller shall deposit any civil penalty or damages collected under this subtitle in the General Fund of the State.
(d) Regulations.- The Department or the Inspector General of the Department may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.
§ 2-611. Annual reports.
(a) Annually to General Assembly.- Beginning October 1, 2010, the Inspector General of the Department and the Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Attorney General shall report annually to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the following information for the previous fiscal year:
(b) For civil actions.- Unless the action is under seal in accordance with § 2-602(a) of this subtitle, for each civil action reported under subsection (a)(l) or (2) of this section, the report shall state:
(iii) Whether the defendant is a minority-owned business enterprise as defined by § 14-301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.
(3) A description of the violation or alleged violation § 2-602(a) of this subtitle; and
(c) For claims reported.- For each claim reported under subsection (a)(3) of this section, the report shall state:
(1) A description of the violation or alleged violation § 2-602 of this subtitle;