Long-time Government Worker's Case Recovers Tax Payers Five Million Dollars

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- We at Price Benowitz LLP (PriceBenowitz.com) have been honored to represent whistleblower Robert J. Palombo in his Qui Tam/False Claims Act case for the past four years. U.S. Ex Rel. Palombo v PAE, Inc. et al.

While the Defendants did not admit any fault, we are happy to report that Pacific Architects and Engineers, LLC (PAE) has agreed to pay the United States $5,000,000 to resolve the False Claims Act allegations contained in Mr. Palombo's Complaint. PAE will also pay Mr. Palombo to resolve his employment retaliation claim filed under Section 3730(h) of the False Claims Act.

Mr. Palombo's allegations included that PAE failed to perform complete background investigations on U.S. nationals hired in support of the State Department, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Task Orders in Afghanistan, Haiti, Lebanon, and Liberia and that the Defendants failed to notify the State Department Regional Security Officer (RSO) in hiring host country national and third-country national employees in Afghanistan.  Mr. Palombo believed such practices could put at risk the safety of U.S. nationals working on compounds abroad.  Mr. Palombo also claimed that he recommended corrective measures to PAE management and alleged that his recommendations were met with opposition and that as a result he was fired.  PAE disputed these claims.

Mr. Palombo is a long time public servant who was hired by PAE to oversee the recruiting, hiring, and training of personnel serving in the INL Task Orders.  Mr. Palombo's government service with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General makes him extremely sensitive to the importance of proper vetting procedures and the consequences that can occur if they are not strictly followed.  "I truly hope that all contractors entrusted with providing personnel in support of various overseas programs will now understand they can be held accountable for failure to comply with contract requirements," said Mr. Palombo.  Mr. Palombo's attorney, Tony Munter, said, "this settlement proves that the system can work to help people provide the government with important information. Mr. Palombo took action to report his allegations and now is being rewarded as a true whistleblower."

The Qui Tam provisions of the False Claims Act enable a whistleblower to report instances of fraud committed against the government and, if a case is successful, obtain a portion of the damages and or fines and penalties collected by the government.  Under the False Claims Act, a whistleblower can also file allegations of employment retaliation.

We are especially grateful to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Short for her pursuit of justice in this matter.

The press release from the Department of Justice is in the link below:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/pacific-architects-and-engineers-llc-pay-5-million-false-claims-act-settlement

Tony Munter heads the False Claims Act and Whistleblower Reward practice at Price Benowitz LLP. He specializes in nationwide litigation and claims under the Qui Tam provisions of the Federal and State False Claims Acts. In addition, he handles cases under the IRS Whistleblower Law and through the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Programs created by the Dodd-Frank Act. See https://whistleblower-quitam-attorney.net.

Mr. Robert Palombo, the whistleblower, can be made available for an interview.  Mr. Tony Munter can do on-camera appearances

Contact: Tony Munter, 202-417-6000

SOURCE Price Benowitz LLP

Related Links

http://www.pricebenowitz.com