Opinion ID: 766928
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Harshman's Other Arguments

Text: 24 Harshman raises a number of other unpersuasive arguments as to why the Brooks complaint did not constitute public disclosure. First, he argues that the allegations in the complaint were insufficiently detailed to constitute public disclosure because the allegations did not mention the FCA and did not include details of the violations. 25 These arguments are without merit. An allegation need not include an express reference to the FCA to constitute a public disclosure. See Hagood v. Sonoma County Water Agency, 81 F.3d 1465, 1474 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 865 (1996); see also Sandia, 70 F.3d at 572. 26 In a similar vein, Harshman's argument that the allegations in the Brooks complaint did not constitute public disclosure because they did not plead facts alleging FCA liability also fails. Specifically, Harshman contends that the allegations did not mention any overcharging, false-invoicing, false certification, or any other specific fraud on the government. As notedabove, however, fraud need not be explicitly alleged to constitute public disclosure. See Hagood, 81 F.3d at 1473, 1474 n.14. Further, allegations divorced from the information upon which they are based can constitute public disclosure. See United States ex rel. Wang v. FMC Corp., 975 F.2d 1412, 1418 (9th Cir. 1992). 27 Harshman argues that even if the Brooks complaint constituted a public disclosure, his qui tam suit is not based upon the allegations in the Brooks complaint because his suit is based on his own information. We rejected this argument in Biddle when we held that a qui tam complaint filed after allegations have been publicly disclosed is, by definition, based upon the publicly disclosed information, even if the plaintiff made the disclosure. 161 F.3d at 540. Harshman tries to distinguish Biddle by arguing that, unlike Biddle, he is not a government auditor who aired his allegations on national television. That is, because the allegations in Harshman's case were buried in an unfiled complaint, presumably unknown to the government, his information was more valuable to the government than Biddle's well-publicized allegations. Harshman's attempt to distinguish Biddle fails because in that case we did not limit our analysis to information the government is likely to learn. 28 Harshman next contends that the Brooks complaint was not a hearing, as required by S 3730(e)(4)(A), because it was only a lodging of a proposed complaint. Harshman raises this argument on appeal for the first time in his reply brief; therefore, the issue is waived and we need not consider it. See Eberle v. City of Anaheim, 901 F.2d 814, 818 (9th Cir. 1990). 29 In any event, the argument is without merit. Disclosures made in the context of litigation may be publicly disclosed for purposes of S 3730(e)(4)(A), even if they are not the subject of a hearing. See United States ex rel. Stinson v. Prudential Ins. Co., 944 F.2d 1149, 1157, 1159-60 (3d Cir. 1991); see also United States ex rel. Barajas v. Northrop Corp. , 5 F.3d 407, 409 (9th Cir. 1993). 30 Therefore, because there has been a public disclosure and the Brooks complaint put the government on notice of the alleged FCA violation, Harshman must demonstrate that he is an original source. 31 U.S.C. 3730(e)(4)(A). 31