According to an article on Reuters, Columbia University has agreed to pay $9 million to settle a lawsuit brought pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.  Craig Love, former director of finance for Columbia’s International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP), brought the lawsuit in 2011 alleging that Columbia submitted false claims in connection with grants it obtained to fund AIDS and HIV related research.  Specifically, he alleged that Columbia used grant money for work that was not dedicated to the funded projects.

“Grantees are required to use federal money for the purpose for which the grant was given and nothing else,” said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. “The applicable rules are clear, and they are at the core of ensuring that tax dollars are appropriately spent. Educational institutions, like everyone else, should be held accountable when they fail to follow those rules.”

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