Integra Life Defeats Whistleblower’s Federal Kickback Claims

Integra Life Sciences Corp. no longer has to defend itself against a whistleblower’s claims that it defrauded federal health-care programs by engaging in a medical device kickback scheme.

Whistleblower Haile Nicholson’s claims that Integra’s conduct violated the False Claims Act are barred because an appeals court in another suit Nicholson filed rejected his claims, Judge Loretta C. Biggs of the US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina said in a Monday order dismissing claims against Integra with prejudice. Claim preclusion bars a suit if a prior suit involving similar claims and parties reaches a resolution.

Nicholson worked ...