Guilt by association often comes up before you notice any risk. You may share vendors, referrals, investors or board seats with people you barely know. Then federal agents connect those links and treat your circle like one unit. If you run a pharmacy, clinic or...
Working in the pharmaceutical industry can give you a close view of how drugs are marketed, priced and billed. That access may also expose you to practices that cause government programs to pay claims they should not. In California, reporting suspected fraud may give...
As modern businesses adopt AI tools in workflows, executives and employees often use AI chatbots for research, brainstorming and drafting. However, many fail to realize that these digital conversations are far from private. In white-collar criminal and civil lawsuits,...
An email sent after a financial transaction might seem like a routine follow-up. However, federal investigators could interpret its timing, wording and purpose differently if they suspect fraud. Even a message sent after funds change hands can become part of their...
We have discussed disgorgement here in the past. It is a financial remedy often used by the used by Securities and Exchange Commission. Individuals or companies are ordered repay illegal profits to those the SEC has determined were defrauded through criminal actions...
Private browsing mode goes by a few different names, including incognito mode. It just depends on what browser you are using, but the function is essentially the same: You are given a new browser session that is not going to record your online activity. That said, one...
If someone has accused you of taking their property in California, you might wonder whether the charge involves embezzlement or theft. While people often use these terms interchangeably, they have distinct legal meanings that could significantly impact your case....
Many people think about court-imposed sentences when they think about the effects of a criminal conviction. For those who hold professional licenses, the conviction will often come with changes to their license. Financial crimes are one type of crime that can lead to...
Event fraud is a type of fraud that targets those who are interested in large-scale events, such as concerts, festivals, conferences and other things of this nature. In some cases, fraud allegations revolve around the fact that the event itself never existed. Someone...
Passing a health inspection is necessary for a restaurant to remain operational in California. Health code violations can lead to fines, temporary shutdowns and other complications for restaurant owners. Additionally, the publication of health code violations in local...
