Civil Law

FSA voices concern about lack of local authority resources for food safety

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has expressed concern about the ability of local authorities to meet inspection targets and the impact this could have on standards.

Comments were made in written evidence submitted as part of an inquiry looking at whether the local government finance system in England is fit for purpose.

The FSA said it is concerned that local food teams do not have sustainable funding to deliver official controls in line with what the current regulatory regime requires. … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Supreme Court gives government broad authority to dismiss whistleblower lawsuits

Supreme Court gives government broad authority to dismiss whistleblower lawsuits

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The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Department of Justice has broad, but not unfettered, authority to dismiss whistleblower lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act’s qui tam provision even when the government initially elected to allow the whistleblower to proceed with the action.

The FCA’s qui tam (an abbreviation for a Latin phrase meaning “who sues on behalf of the King as well as for himself”) provision encourages whistleblowers to file suit on behalf of the government. … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Justices probe government’s authority to dismiss False Claims Act lawsuits

Justices probe government’s authority to dismiss False Claims Act lawsuits

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The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Tuesday in the case of Dr. Jesse Polansky, a whistleblower who had filed a claim on behalf of the government under the False Claims Act’s qui tam provision. The Department of Justice had initially allowed Polansky to proceed with the lawsuit against a company he accused of causing millions of dollars in false Medicare bills to the government, but after several years of litigation sought to force dismissal of the case. At … Read the rest