People Ex Rel. Levenstein v. Salafsky

This permissive interlocutory appeal (155 111. 2d R 308) requires us to construe the Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act (Act) (740 ILCS 175/1 et seq. (West 2000)). Relator, Joseph Levenstein, M.D., an employee of the College of Medicine-Rockford (College) of the University of Illinois-Chicago (University), filed a qui tarn complaint alleging that defendant, Bernard Salafsky, a College dean, violated the Act by knowingly presenting false claims to the University. Salafsky moved to dismiss (see 735 ILCS 5/2 — 619.1 (West 2000)), arguing that (1) the Act bars only false claims against the…