The DOJ’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative (CRFI), launched in May 2025, marks a significant expansion of federal scrutiny over DEI programs among recipients of federal funds. The initiative leverages the False Claims Act and encourages whistleblowers to report potential civil rights violations tied to DEI practices. Early investigations have targeted major corporations and universities, with
State False Claims Act Enforcement is on the Rise
We just released Episode 35 of the False Claims Act Insights podcast where I discussed the growing amount of state-level False Claims Act enforcement with Husch Blackwell partners Rebecca Furdek and Todd Gee.
State FCA enforcement varies widely from state to state, but an increasing number of states are using FCA to combat different
Modern Criminal Forfeiture: Constitutional Limits and Practical Realities
In white-collar criminal cases, forfeiture is one of the most consequential sentencing components, yet it remains overlooked and misunderstood by practitioners. The U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit’s recent decision in United States v. Ng Chong Hwa demonstrates why a thorough understanding of forfeiture is essential.
Year-End False Claims Act Roundup: Key Cases, Enforcement Trends, and What Businesses Should Do Now
2025 has been a landmark year for False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement, marked by record-breaking settlements, evolving legal theories, and a broadening scope of government priorities. The FCA remains one of the federal government’s most potent tools for combating fraud, with billions recovered annually and an ever-expanding reach into new sectors and compliance areas. This roundup synthesizes the year’s most significant developments—drawing on recent case law and shifting enforcement priorities—and provides actionable insights for businesses navigating the FCA landscape.
State Attorneys General 2025 Enforcement Landscape: What Companies Need to Know
2025 marked another notable year in State Attorneys General (AG) enforcement, with both a sharp uptick in multistate AG actions filed against the federal government and significant actions targeting the private sector across industries. We will highlight two issue areas here—antitrust and consumer protection—and describe the escalating friction between State AGs and the federal government as well as distill this year’s trends into actionable takeaways for businesses as we enter 2026.
Are Qui Tams Unconstitutional? The Latest on the Zafirov Case
We just released Episode 34 of the False Claims Act Insights podcast where I had a great conversation with Jody Rudman about the new Zafirov oral argument into whether qui tams are unconstitutional. We discuss how the role of whistleblowers in the False Claims Act is unique among government whistleblower rewards programs, in that False
Government Enforcement, Compliance & Investigations Webinar Series: Trends in State Attorneys General Multistate Litigation
On December 11, Matt Diehr, Kyle Gilster, and Rebecca Furdek presented this month’s session in Husch Blackwell’s Government Enforcement, Compliance & Investigations webinar series. They highlighted the capabilities of the firm’s State Attorney’s General practice through a robust discussion about trends in multistate litigation. The presentation focused on enforcement trends in consumer
DOJ’s 2025 Enforcement Landscape: What Companies Need to Know
This year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) increased its focus on white-collar crime enforcement in some areas, prioritized new areas, and shifted resources away from others. Many of these changes are reflected in Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti’s May 12, 2025, memorandum to the DOJ’s Criminal Division (Galeotti Memo), which highlighted 10 high-impact areas of white-collar crime for enforcement:[1]
Husch Blackwell Launches Congressional Investigations Practice
Husch Blackwell has formally launched its Congressional Investigations practice to assist clients across industries with all types of congressional inquiries. Our bipartisan team includes seasoned trial lawyers with specific experience in congressional investigations, former senior staff from executive branch agencies well-versed in responding to congressional inquiries, and former senior staffers from congressional committees involved in
Understanding HIPAA Disclosures When Responding to CIDs in FCA Investigations
In Episode 33 of False Claims Act Insights, Claire Postman and I tackle a critical challenge for healthcare providers: balancing HIPAA compliance with civil investigative demands (CIDs) in False Claims Act investigations. Claire explains HIPAA’s general prohibition on disclosing protected health information and the key exceptions that permit disclosure when required by law, such as