Relators Have ‘Edged Door Ajar’ For Additional Discovery, 5th Circuit Rules

Mealey's (July 15, 2015, 1:25 PM EDT) -- NEW ORLEANS — The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held July 13 that relators’ allegations and trial evidence extend far beyond the realm of one bellwether claim under the False Claims Act and entitles them to at least some additional discovery, reversing a lower federal court in part in a qui tam action alleging that an insurer submitted false Hurricane Katrina flood claims to the U.S. government (U.S., ex rel. Rigsby v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., No. 14-60160, 5th Cir.; 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 12060)....