Annual Tax Payers Against Fraud Conference and the Florida False Claims Act
I am sitting here in Washington DC at the initial meeting for the 7th Annual Taxpayers Against Fraud Convention listening to Jennifer Verkamp and Frederick Morgan whip through a basic overview of the Federal False Claims Act. I am carrying my Blackberry, and check it about every 5 minutes, just in case. In case what? I don't know. Regardless, I know I need to keep checking it.
So, I get an email from Juliet regarding the Georgia State False Medicaid Claims Act panel at the Southeastern Health Care Fraud Conference in Atlanta that took place yesterday. The information came from the Finch McCranie blog, where they also speak about a First Annual Whistleblower Law Symposium in Georgia at the State Bar of Georgia Association Headquarters taking place later this month.
I have noticed a trend which is coming fast to this particular legal arena and believe that State specific claims will eclipse Federal based claims. In an earlier blog post on the Whistleblower Law Blog, we wrote about Florida's recently amended False Claims Act and how it complies with the Federal Deficit Reduction Act. This opens the door to a multitude of claims brought at solely the state level.
I feel that each State with a local State False Claims Act (every State needs to step up and draft one of these) really needs to create a system of teaching their State Bar about what their Act provides. The more attorneys who recognize violations and who are aware of both the State and Federal FCAs the better for the people of the individual state. I would estimate that only 40% of the attorneys in Florida even know that these laws exist. This is not a slight. It is a fact that needs to be corrected.
So here it is: We need a Symposium in Florida on the Florida False Claims Act."
I will be giving a seminar on Qui Tam on Sept. 27, 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale and on Sept. 28 in Orlando for the the Florida Justice Association in the emerging areas of law seminar. If you are interested in the subject matter, please attend one of these seminars. I will use this is a starting platform to push for a State Wide False Claims Act Symposium.
That's the goal. But goals without dates are simply dreams and I would rather set down a date. So, here it is: Florida will hold a State wide False Claims Act Symposium on or before January 1, 2010. That gives us a bit over 2 years to put the new act to the test and get the State on board. After that we need to push for inclusion of the False Claims Act on the Bar Exam itself!
I will let you know more about the present ongoing TAF conference as it progresses. Tonight is a real treat, Stephen A. Whitlock, the Whistleblower Office Director for the IRS is speaking. We are all waiting for the new IRS guidelines on their own whistleblower provisions, so I am very excited to hear what he has to say.
Take care and thanks for reading.
Brian
PS - If you are interested in working with us on the creation of a State Whistleblowers Symposium in Florida please email us your information. I am sure this will be a successful event that will generate a lot of interest from the legal community.
