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Government Assertion of State Secrets Privilege in Private Party Litigation

Client Alert | 1 min read | 03.06.17

In a rare move, the Department of Justice intervened in Wever v. AECOM National Security Programs, Inc., asserting the state secrets privilege and requesting the dismissal of a $69 million dollar lawsuit between two private parties that it contends would risk the exposure of classified information if the suit were allowed to proceed. Although the Government was not an original party to the litigation, the Government argued in its Motion for Summary Judgment that the court is required to dismiss the case under the state secrets privilege because the Government, through the head of the department with control over the matter, after extensive consultation and coordination within and among relevant Executive Branch agencies, formally asserted the privilege and all three of the circumstances justifying dismissal exist: (1) the plaintiff cannot prove his or her claim without privileged evidence; (2) the defendants cannot properly defend the case without privileged evidence; and (3) further litigation would present an unjustifiable risk of disclosure.

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Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.21.25

Pivot Point for 340B: HRSA Rebate Model Pilot Program Approaches Launch

The deadline for Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) to notify approved manufacturers of acceptance into the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program has passed, and stakeholders across the healthcare industry should start planning for compliance and operational changes. The Model Pilot Program may also face legal challenges that could delay or disrupt implementation....