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"Any Degree of Fraud" Bars Contractor Claims

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 10.13.14

In Laguna Constr. Co. (Oct. 7), the ASBCA denied a $2.9 million claim for unpaid invoices because two of Laguna's employees had pled guilty to accepting subcontractor kickbacks under some, but not all, of the task orders under appeal. The Board imputed the fraud to the company and, applying the doctrine of "antecedent breach," held that the contractor's material breach excused the government's subsequent failure to pay for the completed and invoiced work.


Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25

Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office

In March 2025, President Trump nominated John A. Squires for the positions of Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2, Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, by a vote of 51-47 after anti-filibuster measures were invoked. During and after the confirmation process, Squires emphasized several goals for the USPTO during his time as Director. Such goals included:...