A federal judge has dismissed a False Claims Act lawsuit against Larson LLP client Sherwood Country Club.
The complaint, brought by serial plaintiff Relator LLC, alleged violations of the FCA related to Sherwood Country Club’s participation in the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated Relator’s claims and declined to intervene.
In granting Sherwood Country Club’s motion to dismiss, Central District Judge Wesley L. Hsu found that Relator’s claims were barred by the Public Disclosure Doctrine and Relator failed to establish it was an ‘original source’ of information. Judge Hsu’s order also noted that Relator’s allegations appeared to be “recycled from four of its similar FCA complaints” filed in the Ninth Circuit.
The Larson team representing Sherwood Country Club was led by partners Stephen G. Larson and R.C. Harlan, and associate Clinton A. Ford, Jr.