covered the recent ruling in a case involving Gardere client Community Health Systems Inc. (CHSI) and a whistleblower. In August 2014, CHSI agreed to pay $98.15 million to resolve seven whistleblower False Claims Act lawsuits accusing the hospital chain of overbilling government programs for inpatient services. Following the settlement, whistleblower Amy Cook-Reska claimed attorney fees and argued that part of the matter be moved to the Middle District of Tennessee.
On May 4, 2015, a Texas federal court rejected the claim, awarding only a portion of the fees to Ms. Cook-Reska. In addition, the federal court halved the attorneys' reimbursements for travel, lowered some hourly rates and dismissed Cook-Reska's request to transfer part of the case to Tennessee federal court.
CHSI is represented by Gardere Attorneys James G. Munisteri and Jared A. Wilkerson, as well as Michael Waldman from the law firm of Robbins Russel Englert Orseck Untereiner & Sauber LLP in Washington D.C.
