United States ex rel. Lefan v. General Electric Co.

OPINION

HELENE N. WHITE, Circuit Judge.

Defendants General Electric Co., Precision Castparts Corp., and Alcoa, Inc. (collectively “GE”), appeal from the decision of the district court awarding attorneys’ fees following the settlement of a False Claims Act (FCA) suit. The law firm of Helmer, Martins, Rice & Popham (HMRP) cross-appeals.1 We affirm in part and reverse in part.

I

GE had multiple contracts to manufacture jet engines for use in military aircraft. In 2000, a qui tarn, action was filed under seal by two relators2 pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq. The action…