1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |Divided Federal Circuit Disallows Recovery Of Interest As Damages

Divided Federal Circuit Disallows Recovery Of Interest As Damages

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 10.14.04

Under the "a rose is a rose by any other name" theory, Judge Dyk for the majority in England v. Contel Advanced Systems, Inc. (Oct. 6, 2004) found the ASBCA had improperly granted interest as damages to the contractor when the Navy breached its obligation to reduce the contract price and so the contractor had had to borrow an inflated amount in order to perform. Judge Newman in dissent pointed out that the "no interest" rule dictated by sovereign immunity applies only when interest is requested on other damages, not when the basic damage itself is payment of interest.

Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 03.05.26

Fifth Circuit Decision in Health Care Fraud Case Highlights Importance of Careful Drafting in Civil RICO Complaints

A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Co. v. 1st Choice Accident & Injury, LLC, No. 24-20275 (5th Cir. Feb. 24, 2026), offers important lessons for health care payors and other potential plaintiffs considering civil claims under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Although the Fifth Circuit’s decision focused on a procedural issue, the underlying case turned on a fundamental pleading failure: the plaintiff insurers did not adequately describe the fraudulent network they were suing as a RICO “enterprise.” The result was dismissal of a $14 million fraud case....