Upholding a May 2007 jury verdict of liability under the False Claims Act and a $90 million damage award, on June 23 the Chief Judge of the US District Court for the District of Columbia denied all post-trial motions filed by the defendant construction companies accused of conspiring to rig bids on US government-funded construction projects in the Middle East.The ruling represents a victory for both the United States and WilmerHale's client, Relator Richard F. Miller. Miller, a former executive of one of the construction companies, alerted the Government after becoming aware of the companies' conspiracy. The jury verdict followed a seven-week trial.
The WilmerHale team was led by members of the Antitrust and Litigation practices, including partners Robert Bell, Jonathan Cedarbaum, Robert Cultice (lead trial attorney), Jennifer O'Connor (lead trial attorney), counsel Jeffrey Ayer, and associates Ashley Baynham, Monya Bunch, Kevin Heffel, Allison Murphy, Gregory Reece, Brian Simmonds, Stephen Smith and Daniel Volchok.