United States First Circuit

In this case, relator Jones alleges that defendants Killiany and Albert knowingly made false statements when submitting a grant application to the National Institute of Aging (NIA) and knowingly falsified certain scientific data underlying the application, which, Jones contends, influenced the NIA's decision to award over $12 million in federal funds to Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. In 2006, Jones filed a qui tam action pursuant to the False Claims Act, and after this court vacated the district court's entry of summary judgment in favor of defendants, the case proceeded to trial. At trial, a jury found for defendants, and the district court denied Jones' motions for judgment as a matter of law and for a new trial. The judgment of the district court is affirmed, where there is no reason to upset the jury's considered verdict, as any errors were harmless, there was ample evidence in the record for the jury to believe defendants' explanations for their revised measurements and to conclude that defendants statements were either not false or that defendants lacked knowledge that they were false, and Jones was given full opportunity to present his claims before the jury.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/16/2015
• Published 03/16/2015

Judges

• Howard

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel