United States Fourth Circuit

In a case in which the United States alleged that a hospital entered into compensation arrangements with certain physicians that violated the Stark Law in connection with claims submitted to the Medicare program, and so sought relief under the False Claims Act (FCA) and equitable relief for payment under mistake of fact and unjust enrichment, the district court's order of a new trial on the FCA claim and judgment in favor of the government on its equitable claims is vacated and the case remanded, where: 1) the district court impermissibly resolved the issue of whether there had been a Stark Act violation before a jury had adjudicated it; and 2) the record was not sufficient to assess whether the hospital suffered prejudice.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/30/2012
• Published 03/30/2012

Judges

• Duncan

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• William Walter Wilkins, Tracy Lyle Hilmer