Raymond Simpson v. Lear Astronics Corporation, United States Ex Rel. Raymond Simpson v. Lear Astronics Corporation

Raymond Simpson, appearing in propria persona, appeals two nondispositive orders issued by a magistrate judge. The first, filed on December 7, 1993, imposed sanctions against Simpson for failing to respond adequately to discovery requests. The second, filed on January 13,1994, set those sanctions at $10,000. Simpson also appeals the district court’s order filed March 21, 1994 granting summary judgment against him on his first cause of action. On cross-appeal, defendant Lear Astronics Corporation challenges the district court’s decision not to grant sanctions against Simpson pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 and 31 U.S.C. section 3730 (d)(4). This decision is reflected in the district court’s March 21 summary judgment order and in the final order and judgment in this case filed the same day which does not award attorneys’ fees to Lear.

BACKGROUND

Simpson, a former internal auditor for Lear, brought this case in propria persona pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. sections 3729 et seq. Simpson’s second amended complaint is divided into two causes of action: the first alleges that Lear has submitted false claims to the…