Pipe Customs Fraud Suit Aided by eBay Reaches Settlement

A federal judge approved a settlement agreement in a case accusing iron and steel pipe parts company Victaulic Co. of evading customs duties owed to the government in violation of the False Claims Act.

Victaulic has agreed to pay $600,000 with no admission of liability or wrongdoing to settle the case, said Thomas Hill of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, counsel for Victaulic.

The only remaining issues to be determined in the six-year litigation are the settlement share and attorneys’ fees recovery for whistleblower Customs Fraud Investigations LLC, according to the order of Judge Mark A. Kearney, U.S. District Court for ...