BY KIM JANSSEN Federal Courts Reporter kjanssen@suntimes.com July 30, 2013 12:14PM
Updated: July 30, 2013 6:14PM
Northwestern University has agreed to pay the federal government nearly $3 million to settle a claim of cancer research fraud against a former doctor at its Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center.
Dr. Charles L. Bennett allegedly took his wife on personal trips, then illegally billed the flights, hotels and meals to the National Institutes of Health, claiming it was part of his cancer-fighting work. And he allegedly submitted phony bills for his work over a seven-year period beginning in 2003.
A whistleblower suit filed under seal in 2009 by former Lurie Cancer Center worker Melissa Theis first alleged the wrongdoing by Bennett. Federal investigators from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, the FBI, the NIH and the U.S. Attorney?s office then probed Theis? allegations.
According to Theis? complaint, her bosses at the highly ranked hospital ?refused to seriously address the issues? when she raised concerns about Bennett in 2008, and Theis left the university soon after.
Under a settlement deal unsealed Tuesday, Northwestern will pay the government $2.93 million, of which Theis will get $498,000.
Northwestern did not admit liability as part of the settlement, but university spokeswoman Marla Paul issued a statement Tuesday saying Northwestern was ?disappointed to see the allegations in the complaint.?
Theis? attorney Linda Wyetzner said it had ?not been easy? for Theis to ?put herself out there as a whistleblower? but that she was happy with the outcome.
Acting U.S. Attorney Gary Shapiro noted that using ?federal grant money to pay for personal travel, hotels and meals, and to hire unqualified friends and relatives as ?consultants? violates the public trust? and warned that anyone who receives federal grants faces punishment if they ?allow the system to be manipulated.?
Oscars 2013 barcelona vs real madrid renee zellweger catherine zeta jones charlize theron barbra streisand barbra streisand
No comments:
Post a Comment