Wisconsin Bell to Pay $55 Million False Claims Act Settlement

AT&T subsidiary Wisconsin Bell Inc. will pay $55 million to settle a long-running False Claims Act suit alleging it defrauded the Federal Communications Commission by overcharging schools and libraries for telecommunications and information services.

Judge Lynn Adelman of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin administratively closed the case Wednesday, following the parties’ announcement of the deal, which includes $25 million in attorneys’ fees.

The parties said the settlement, which requires federal government approval, also covers claims in a similar case pending in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, United States ex rel. Heath ...