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Profit Seeking Is Not Fraudulent

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 10.12.12

In United States ex rel. Williams v. Renal Care Group, Inc., the Sixth Circuit found the defendants did not knowingly submit false claims to Medicare when they followed industry practices and sought guidance -- both from outside legal counsel and the government -- on how to follow ambiguous federal regulations, even though the contractors sought to maximize government payments. The court dismissed the idea that contractors "ought to be punished solely for seeking to maximize profits" and rejected the government's argument that the companies had "recklessly" misinterpreted the regulations to do so.


Insights

Client Alert | 4 min read | 07.02.25

FTC Orders Divestitures in Retail Fuel Outlet Deal and Signals a Return to More Standard Remedy Discussions

Merger consent orders are back at the FTC, and the FTC’s most recent action showcases how the current leadership is analyzing divestiture proposals. Last week, the FTC approved a proposed consent agreement in Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s (ACT) acquisition of retail fuel outlets from Giant Eagle, Inc. that paired standard retail divestitures with a “prior notice” requirement that ACT notify the agency of future acquisitions in certain markets regardless of size. This FTC has signaled greater acceptance of remedies than the prior administration, and this most recent consent puts that on display, with Commissioner Meador providing merging parties guidance on designing effective remedies....