The federal government has filed suit in the Southern District of Mississippi against the Florida-based Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA). The case was filed under the False Claims Act, a statute used to recover funds fraudulently obtained from the government.
The U.S. alleges that TRDA relied on false statements in seeking federal grants from two federal programs funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In addition, the suit alleges that the grant recipient knowingly used grant funds for activities not allowed under the terms of the grants. TRDA, headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, is chartered by the state of Florida to help develop opportunities for local small businesses.
When Tony West, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, announced that the suit had been filed, he explained: “Government grant programs intended to encourage the development of small businesses should not be abused by those who receive such funding.”
Waters & Kraus is a national firm with highly skilled lawyers practicing qui tam litigation in four offices, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Baltimore. Our attorneys have decades of experience successfully representing whistleblowers in a variety of fraud cases. Contact us to learn more about our practice and how we can assist.
