Government contractors facing federal investigations should understand the basics of grand jury indictments and how the criminal process can impact the company. When the federal prosecutors finish their investigation, they can bring further charges by moving for a federal grand jury indictment. This is a very stressful process. Small businesses… Read more »
Establishing and proving False Claims Act defenses in government investigations and litigation can make the difference in winning or being an open target for prison time or hefty civil fines. The False Claims Act, 31 USC 3729, is the government’s favorite legal tool to prosecute and impose civil and criminal… Read more »
by Theodore P Watson, Esq. Qui Tam Cases can ruin a federal contractor’s future and shut companies down if not defended correctly. The Qui Tam defense attorneys at Watson & Associates, LLC aggressively defend small businesses and large DOD contractors doing business with the federal government. The following information provides… Read more »
By Theodore P. Watson, Esq Federal Contract Qui Tam Defense Lawyer. Qui Tam lawsuits involving United States government contracts can be a traumatic experience. There are many targeted individuals and contractors who end up with guilty verdicts in criminal cases or paying thousands or millions in civil fines without even… Read more »
If you are planning on filing a Qui Tam lawsuit, the following information may help you to better understand the basics and ground rules. Understanding what is a Qui Tam Relator is critical before hiring an attorney. What Does Qui Tam Mean? The Latin phrase “Qui Tam” is translated to… Read more »
Avoid Costly Mistakes in Government OIG Investigations Theodore P. Watson, Esquire. As it relates to government contracting and federal procurement, various agencies have Office of Investigations departments, otherwise known as the Office of Inspector General (OIG), that conducts civil, criminal, and administrative investigations of procurement fraud involving federal government contracts,… Read more »
Act quickly if you are under investigation or worried about violating Buy American Act compliance requirements. Theodore P Watson, Esq – Practice Leader This section is only written to provide information to small businesses and larger federal government contractors regarding common issues and questions raised about the Buy American Act. If… Read more »
What is the government contract fraud investigation process? By understanding the basic rules of engagement, federal contractors can minimize criminal liability and hefty fines. By Theodore Watson, Esq. The procurement fraud investigation process often starts at the contracting officer (CO) level either during the award or performance stages. Under FAR Part… Read more »
Deciding on whether to file a Court of Federal Claims bid protest versus GAO protest or the agency-level protest can be tricky too many government contractors. At the end of the day, many contractors seeking to save revenues worth millions of dollars find that closing bridges or giving up rights… Read more »
An SBA size protest is a legal challenge to the agency’s decision to award a government contract because of the awardee’s alleged small business size violation. Specifically, the protestor challenges the awardee size status by asserting and providing a legal and factual basis for the size protest. 13 CFR 121.1001… Read more »