A joint venture of engineering and construction companies has agreed to pay the United States $24.75 million to settle allegations that the firms violated the False Claims Act. The government asserted that the companies knowingly submitted inflated claims on Amtrak’s project to electrify the rail corridor between New Haven and Boston.
The companies involved include Balfour Beatty Construction, Massachusetts Electric Construction Company, J.F. White Contracting Company and several joint ventures formed by those companies. The inflated claims were paid with federal grant funds received by Amtrak.
The suit originated as a qui tam claim filed by a whistleblower who had been employed by Balfour Beatty. he will receive nearly $4 million as his relator’s share.
U.S. Newswire reported on the settlement on October 11, 2005.