US Partially Joins Qui Tam Whistleblower Suit
Against Nanotechnology Research Firm
That Received $50 Million
in Small Business Innovation Research ("SBIR") Grants
Since 1985; Judge Orders Unsealing,
Service
Of Qui Tam Complaint Filed By
Whistleblower's Attorney
Timothy J. McInnis, Esq.
In 2005; MER, Its Principals And Officers
Defrauded Departments of Defense, Energy and NASA
By Illegally Duplicating Projects, Falsifying
Progress Reports, And Billing Government For Work
On Private Projects,
McInnis’ Complaint Alleges
UPDATE: The United States, which earlier had announced it would partially intervene in the qui tam whistleblower lawsuit against Tucson-based Materials and Electrochemical Research Corporation (“MER”), unsealed its Complaint against the nanotechnology company. Included in it are new allegations that MER submitted forged
venture capital agreements from a non-existent entity it called "Southwest
Investment Partners" in 13 applications totaling approximately $9 million. Commercializarion contracts are required to be in force in order to secure continuing SBIR grants.
The Government's
Samandi Complaint (PDF)
TUCSON, Az (May 2008) - The U. S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, in a March 31, 2008 notice filed in U.S. District Court, announced that the federal Government is partially intervening in a qui tam whistleblower lawsuit against Tucson-based Materials and Electrochemical Research Corporation (“MER”), a nanotechnology company that has received more than $50 million in Government research grants since 1985.
The suit, filed under seal in 2005, charges the company and four individual defendants with violating the federal False Claims Act between 2002 and 2005 in connection with MER’s receipt of Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) grants, according to the whistleblower’s attorney, Timothy J. McInnis, Esq.
Samandi Intervention News Release (PDF)
Samandi Complaint (PDF)
