Orbit Medical Inc. and Rehab Medical Inc. will pay $7.5 million to resolve allegations that Orbit submitted false claims to federal health care programs for power wheelchairs and accessories, the Justice Department announced today. Orbit Medical and Rehab Medical, a partial successor of Orbit, are durable medical equipment suppliers based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Indianapolis, Indiana, respectively.
The allegations resolved by the settlement with Orbit and Rehab were filed under the False Claims Act by two former Orbit employees, Dustin Clyde and Tyler Jackson. Under the Act, a private party can sue for false claims on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. Clyde and Jackson will receive approximately $1.5 million. Matt Howell, partner at Fillmore Spencer, LLC represented Clyde and Jackson in this action.
Matthew R. Howell began his career as an assistant United States attorney for the Federal government in Salt Lake City, Utah, prosecuting crimes against federally insured financial institutions and crimes committed on Indian reservations and federal lands. Since joining Fillmore Spencer LLC in 2005, Matt Howell has worked on cases large and small on behalf of individuals and companies. His casework includes breach of contract, fraud, criminal defense, intellectual property, real property and family law issues. He has substantial experience in representing Whistle-Blowers in cases of fraud against the government as well as extensive experience in mediation, both as an attorney and as a mediator. He has argued cases before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Utah Supreme Court, the Utah Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, and many district and justice courts throughout the state of Utah.
