United States of America v. California Institute of Technology

I. INTRODUCTION

Relator Nathan S. Lewis (the "Relator") filed this gui tam action, under seal, against defendants California Institute of Technology ("Caltech"), Dr. Harry A. Atwater ("Dr. Atwater"), Dr. Edward M. Stolper ("Dr. Stolper"), and Dr. Jacqueline K. Barton ("Dr. Barton") on July 9, 2018. Dkt. ("Compl."). Relator’s initial complaint asserted claims for: (1) violation of the False Claims Act ("FCA"), U.S.C. § 3729 et seq., against all defendants; and (2) retaliation in violation of the FCA, U.S.C. § 3730(h), against Caltech. Id. Following a period of investigation, the United States of America declined to intervene on June 19, 2019. Dkt. 13. Defendants thereafter moved to dismiss Relator’s complaint on September 16, 2019. Dkt. 21. On October 28, 2019, the Court granted in part and denied in part defendant’s motion to dismiss. Dkt. 31 (“MTD Order’). The Court granted the motion to dismiss relator’s FCA claim, without prejudice, on the grounds that Relator failed to plead facts satisfying the FCA’s falsity requirement under an implied false certification theory. Id. at 14. The Court denied the motion to…