A Wisconsin federal judge has rejected Wisconsin Bell's attempt to shutter a whistleblower's claims it overcharged schools and libraries for connectivity services provided under the federal E-Rate program by arguing the False Claims Act's qui tam provisions are unconstitutional.
Law360
Government Contracts
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025 Law360 iOS App Law360 Android App Follow Law360 on Facebook Follow Law360 on LinkedIn Follow Law360 on Twitter

TOP NEWS

Judge Says FCA Qui Tam Provisions Don't Violate Constitution

By Madeline Lyskawa

A Wisconsin federal judge has rejected Wisconsin Bell's attempt to shutter a whistleblower's claims it overcharged schools and libraries for connectivity services provided under the federal E-Rate program by arguing the False Claims Act's qui tam provisions are unconstitutional.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

SpaceX's China Ties Require Scrutiny, FCC Told

By Nadia Dreid

SpaceX's plan to buy $17 billion in spectrum shouldn't be approved until the FCC looks into Elon Musk's "deep reliance" on the Chinese Communist Party for financing his space exploration company's operations and manufacturing its equipment, a consumer group says.

Petition attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Lockheed To Integrate Gemini For On-Premises Infrastructure

By Madeline Lyskawa

Google's Gemini models will be deployed in Lockheed Martin's on-premises artificial intelligence platform as part of an effort to enable faster data analysis and accelerate research and development, according to a new strategic partnership announced by the companies. 

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

POLICY & REGULATION

Senator Presses Md. Biz For Info On East Wing Demolition

By Tom Lotshaw

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., asked a Maryland business tapped to demolish the White House's East Wing to explain what steps were taken to protect workers and the public from hazardous building materials such as asbestos and lead paint.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

LITIGATION

J&J's Janssen Says 3rd Circ. Should Reverse $1.6B FCA Win

By Jarek Rutz

Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Products LP urged the Third Circuit to overturn a $1.6 billion False Claims Act judgment over two of its HIV drugs, arguing the district court allowed whistleblowers to prove fraud based solely on "off-label" marketing rather than any false claim actually submitted to the government.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Health Group Urges 1st Circ. To Deny FCA Suit Fee Challenge

By Tom Lotshaw

A Massachusetts health network has asked the First Circuit to deny a whistleblower's attempt to secure more attorney fees for a False Claims Act suit, arguing that a federal judge properly denied numerous claims for fees after a $2.5 million settlement.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

UCLA Sued For Plan To Move Games From Rose Bowl To SoFi

By Gina Kim

Pasadena accused UCLA of ending its agreement to host home football games at the Rose Bowl 18 years early with its plan to move to SoFi Stadium once college football season ends next month, according to a breach of contract suit lodged Wednesday in California state court.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

EXPERT ANALYSIS

Series

Practicing Stoicism Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Practicing Stoicism, by applying reason to ignore my emotions and govern my decisions, has enabled me to approach challenging situations in a structured way, ultimately providing advice singularly devoted to a client's interest, says John Baranello at Moses & Singer.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

LEGAL INDUSTRY

Judge Blasted For Violent Sexual Comments Against Minors

By Spencer Brewer

The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has reprimanded a municipal judge for directing sexual remarks at children and wishing sexual violence upon them, noting that the judge exhibited racial bias from the bench.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Meet The Judge Hearing Comey's, James' US Atty Challenges

By Jack Karp

The South Carolina federal judge who will consider former FBI Director James Comey's and New York Attorney General Letitia James' challenges to the authority of the interim U.S. attorney who brought separate criminal charges against them is known for her rigorous preparation and exacting standards.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Comey Wins Bid For Judge Oversight In Privilege Dispute

By Jared Foretek

A Virginia federal judge has appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick to preside over the privilege review of seized materials in the U.S. Department of Justice's case against former FBI Director James Comey, denying the DOJ's proposal for an outside "filter team" of government attorneys to conduct the review themselves.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NJ Attys Punch Up Governor's Race With Campaign Funds

By Jake Maher

New Jersey's legal community has donated more than $900,000 to the gubernatorial candidates this election, with the Democrat surpassing the Republican in contributions, campaign finance records show.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Habba Cites Essayli Ruling To Defend Role In NJ Cases

By Carla Baranauckas

The U.S. Department of Justice has urged the Third Circuit to reinstate Alina Habba's authority in two criminal prosecutions, arguing a recent California ruling backs her power to supervise cases as first assistant, even if she's barred from acting as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey under federal vacancy law.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Sidley's 'Incomplete' Story Hid Fraud Scheme, Family Says

By Chart Riggall

A family alleging it was roped into an illegal tax sheltering scheme on the advice of a former Sidley Austin LLP attorney has urged a Georgia federal judge to keep its suit against the firm alive, arguing a jury should decide when the family knew enough about the fraud to move forward with its claims.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Copyright Rules For AI Creations Too Strict, IP Panel Says

By Ivan Moreno

The U.S. Copyright Office's rule barring registration of works created entirely by artificial intelligence systems may be overly strict and unlikely to endure, according to a panel of legal experts who discussed the matter Wednesday at the American Intellectual Property Law Association's annual conference in D.C.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Judges Say Judicial Freedom Key To Maintaining Rule Of Law

By Rachel Konieczny

Colorado state and federal judges provided a glimpse Wednesday into how courts decide cases when facing current challenges to the rule of law, agreeing that judicial independence is paramount to maintaining the heart of the United States' legal system.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

4 Things To Know About Fla. Bar Admissions Reform Ideas

By Madison Arnold

A work group has issued its final report on possible changes to bar exam admission requirements in Florida, proposing 12 potential alternatives to the current system of requiring graduates to come from law schools accredited by the American Bar Association.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Defamation Litigation Roundup: Drake, IRS, Greenpeace

By Theresa Schliep

In this month's review of defamation fights, Law360 highlights notable developments in California's anti-SLAPP law following a major Ninth Circuit opinion, as well as a decision — and appeal — in Drake's fight with his record label over Kendrick Lamar's diss track.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Promo that reads Law360 Pulse Leaderboard Promo that reads Law360 Pulse Prestige Leaders

LAW FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

Archer & Greiner

Berger Montague

Bernstein Shur

Brooks & Warner

Caplan Cobb

Carmichael Ellis

Cooley LLP

Covington & Burling

Cowan DeBaets

Gibbons PC

Gibson Dunn

Goldberg Kohn

Greenberg Traurig

Griffin Humphries

Holland & Knight

Kellogg Hansen

Krovatin Nau

Lowell & Associates

Mayer Brown

McCarter & English

Moses & Singer

Munger Tolles

O'Neil Cannon

Reese Marketos

Robinson Gray

Sidley Austin

Sills Cummis

Sperling Kenny

Steptoe LLP

von Briesen & Roper

COMPANIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

AT&T Inc.

American Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Democratic National Committee

EchoStar Corp.

Energy Transfer LP

Genentech Inc.

George Washington University

Google LLC

Johnson & Johnson

Lockheed Martin Corp.

New Jersey State Bar Association

Regents of the University of California

Rowan University

Seton Hall University

SoFi Stadium

Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Spectrum Management Holding Co.

State Bar of California

Tesla Inc.

The Florida Bar

The New York Times Co.

The Walt Disney Co.

Universal Health Services Inc.

Universal Service Administrative Co.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Communications Commission

Florida Supreme Court

Food and Drug Administration

Internal Revenue Service

New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission

New York Attorney General's Office

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

U.S. Copyright Office

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. Supreme Court

United States District Court for the District of Colorado

United States District Court for the District of North Dakota

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin