United Medical Center (UMC) is facing numerous False Claims Act allegations from a Maryland doctor alleging he experienced whistleblower retaliation from the hospital.

Plaintiff Julian C. alleges that after reporting False Claims Act violations, the healthcare facility fired him in an instance of whistleblower retaliation. He is now filing this retaliation lawsuit, seeking damages related to the loss of his job.

United Medical Center is owned by the District of Columbia. The hospital allegedly failed to address the whistleblower concerns Julian reported. Instead, UMC allegedly responded by firing him.

Also named in the retaliation lawsuit was Veritas of Washington LLC, along with several Veritas executives for their alleged participation in the whistleblower retaliation.

Julian says he had been employed by United Medical Center as Chief Medical Officer. According to the qui tam lawsuit, he had worked in this position between June 2015 and Dec. 17, 2017 and was a well respected physician in pulmonary and critical care.

The plaintiff says he did good work at United Medical Center, leaving no legitimate basis for his firing. In his complaint, the plaintiff says that he conducted his occupational duties with due diligence and had complained about the healthcare facility’s “improper admission practices” and other conduct impacting the health and safety of patients.

The plaintiff also reported that UMC had also submitted faulty claims to Medicare and Medicaid, allegedly under the direction of Veritas.

Overview of Whistleblower Retaliation

Before joining United Medical Center, the plaintiff had served in a number of different hospitals and had run a successful practice. The plaintiff says that he felt it has his responsibility to report any False Claims Act violations he witnessed, which allegedly resulted in the whistleblower retaliation.

According to the retaliation lawsuit, the plaintiff had signed an offer letter that explained the terms and conditions of his employment. The plaintiff also agreed that he would serve the hospitals to the best of his abilities, and that he would serve as an effective liaison between Hospital administration, medical staff, and clinical services offered to the surrounding community.

Even though the plaintiff had tried to adhere to his employment contract by reporting problems, Veritas allegedly failed to address the problems brought up and allegations of withholding financial resource from the UMC’s obstetrics department in order to save money.

In November 201, with the plaintiff’s testimony and other information, the D.C. Council voted to end their business relationship with Veritas.

Veritas representatives have denied all allegations of whistleblower retaliation and False Claims Act violations, and alleged the plaintiff had his own financial motivations to make his claims public.

The plaintiff is seeking compensation for whistleblower retaliation, including double damages under the federal False Claims Act and three times the amount of actual damages owed under the D.C. False Claims Act. Furthermore, the plaintiff is also seeking damages from Veritas for “tortuous interference with his employment contract.”

This Whistleblower Retaliation Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-00347, in the U.S. District Court of District of Columbia.