Smith and Nephew Qui Tam Lawsuit–$11.3 Million Settlement

Case name: United States of America ex rel. Cox v. Smith and Nephew, Inc.
Case type: Whistleblower and Qui Tam
Filed in: [U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee]
[Case No.: 2:08-CV-02832]

Case Summary

In September 2014, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight and the U.S. Government settled a whistleblower action under the Trade Agreements Act (“TAA”) and the False Claims Act (“FCA”) with Smith and Nephew, Inc., one of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers.

As part of the settlement, Smith and Nephew agreed to pay the government $11.3 million. The Relator, who was represented by Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, received 28% of the settlement, or $2.3 million.

The Plaintiff, Sam Cox alleged that Smith and Nephew knowingly violated the TAA and the FCA by selling devices to the Government that were manufactured in countries with which the United States is not a trading partner.