Army Corps Levee Contractor Must Pay Equipment Fraud Penalties

An Army Corps of Engineers contractor must be penalized for fraudulently billing the government for the equipment used under a levee rehabilitation contract in Florida, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled Monday.

Overwhelming evidence shows that Lodge Construction Inc. submitted claims for payment that were “patently deceitful,” and in violation of the False Claims Act, Judge David A. Tapp said.

Because the false claims submitted to the agency were denied, there is no proof of actual damages, the court said. But specific false representations made to the government demand two $11,000 penalties under the FCA, the court said.

Lodge ...