(March 12, 2019, 1:32 PM EDT) -- SAN FRANCISCO — Medical device maker Covidien has agreed to pay $17,477,947 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by offering free or discounted medical practice development or marketing support to physicians in exchange for using Covidien’s device, the U.S. Department of Justice announced March 11 (United States ex rel. Erin Hayes, et al. v. Covidien, Inc., No. 14-1511, and United States ex rel. Shawnea Howerton v. Covidien, Inc., No. 15-558, N.D. Calif., San Francisco Div.)....