Building contractor hired for U.S. courthouse in Missouri pays hefty settlement to resolve fraud claims

The United States government has received a large settlement payment from AMEC Construction Management Inc. (ACMI) to resolve the government’s claims of fraud and kickbacks on four construction contracts. The United States had filed counterclaims against the company in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, seeking damages and penalties under the Anti-Kickback Act, the False Claims Act and common law theories regarding two contracts for construction of the Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri, one contract for construction of the U.S. courthouse located in Sacramento, California and a final contract for renovations on the federal customs building in San Francisco.

In 2005 and 2007, the court held that ACMI was liable to the government for violations of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act. The court further held that because of ACMI’s fraudulent conduct, the company had forfeited the right to pursue its own claims against the United States, in accord with the Forfeiture of Fraudulent Claims Act. The United States was awarded substantial damages and penalties, which it sought to collect by obtaining a writ of garnishment for the damages and penalties owed by ACMI. The sizable settlement resolves this litigation and other claims concerning ACMI’s default on the Eagleton courthouse construction contract in 1999.

For the full story, go to the Department of Justice’s Press Release.