The Justice Department approved Google’s purchase of ticketing software company ITA Software as long as ITA’s products remain available to Google’s rivals. Get the full story »
Inside these posts: Justice Department
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Johnson & Johnson to pay U.S. $70M in fines
Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $70 million to settle U.S. charges that it paid bribes and kickbacks to win business overseas, the first major pharmaceutical company to settle since the Obama administration began its scrutiny of the industry more than a year ago. Get the full story »
FDA chemist and son charged with insider trading
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration chemist and his son were charged with using inside information about drug approvals to reap more than $3.6 million in profits, in an embarrassing blow to the health industry regulator. Get the full story »
U.S., Japan probes UBS actions on LIBOR
Swiss bank UBS said it had received subpoenas from U.S. and Japanese regulators regarding whether it made “improper attempts” to manipulate LIBOR rates, the benchmark price for interbank borrowing costs.
“UBS understands that the investigations focus on whether there were improper attempts by UBS, either acting on its own or together with others, to manipulate LIBOR rates at certain times,” the bank said in its annual report Tuesday. Get the full story »
Feb. 7 at 12:41 p.m.
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Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Government, Litigation, Pharmaceuticals Justice Dept. takes over Abbott probe
The U.S. Justice Department plans to take the lead in lawsuits accusing Abbott Laboratories of illegally promoting anti-seizure drug Depakote for uses not approved by regulators, including dementia.
The Justice Department filed notices last week in federal court in western Virginia saying it would intervene in at least three lawsuits against Abbott that were previously confidential under laws designed to protect would-be whistleblowers who come forward with information about alleged health-care fraud. The lawsuits were made public as a result of the department’s intervention. Get the full story »
DOJ looking into Caterpillar-Bacyrus deal
Bucyrus International Inc. and Caterpillar Inc. received requests from the Department of Justice for additional information regarding the latter’s proposed $7.6 billion acquisition of the mining-equipment company. Get the full story »
Supreme Court limits privacy of gov’t contractors
The Supreme Court has again rejected broad privacy rights for some government workers.
A unanimous bench on Wednesday affirmed the government’s right to conduct personal background checks on current and prospective employees under federal contract, especially those in sensitive or high-security workplaces. Get the full story »
Comcast wins FCC approval to take over NBC
The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday gave Comcast Corp., the country’s largest cable company, the green light to take over NBC Universal, home of the NBC television network.
Four of the commission’s five members voted to let Comcast buy a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co. for $13.8 billion in cash and assets. Michael Copps, one of the commission’s three Democrats and an opponent of media consolidation, voted against the deal. Get the full story »
Abbott settles inflated drug price case with feds
Abbott Laboratories and two other drugmakers will pay $421 million to settle allegations that they falsely inflated product prices to gain larger government reimbursement payments, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday.
Abbott’s share of the settlement is $126.5 million for violations of the False Claims Act involving pricing of two antibiotics and agents used to facilitate intravenous infusions of other drugs, the Justice Department said. Get the full story »
Feds charge more than 500 in Ponzis, frauds
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announces the results of "Operation Broken Trust." (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
U.S. officials said Monday they have charged more than 500 people in what they dubbed the largest-ever nationwide sweep of scam artists preying on individual investors.
The announcement comes as federal agencies and the Obama administration are facing pressure to punish big-name companies and individuals for their role in the financial mess. So far, the U.S. has won few high-profile cases, compared with the aftermath of the savings and loan crisis and the dot-com bust. Get the full story »
Franken asks Justice to look at Comcast/NBC deal
Sen. Al Franken, a critic of Comcast Corp.’s proposed deal for control of NBC Universal, asked the Justice Department Monday to investigate whether the giant cable company had engaged in “illegal collaboration” concerning its intended target.
Franken (D-Minn.) said that on Sept. 26 Comcast had named its chief operating officer, Steve Burke, as the prospective chief executive of NBC Universal. Last week, Comcast named several executives who would hold top jobs at NBC Universal after the cable company took control of the broadcaster and movie studio from General Electric Co. Get the full story »
Former Glaxo lawyer charged with obstruction
A former lawyer for pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline Plc has been indicted on charges of lying and obstructing an investigation into the company’s promotion of an anti-depressant drug, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday.
The lawyer, Lauren Stevens, was indicted on four counts of making false statements, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to Glaxo’s promotion of the drug for weight loss, which had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Get the full story »
Justice Dept. seeks to halt tax practices of Chicago attorney
The U.S. government has sued a Chicago lawyer, who was a partner at Seyfarth Shaw, to stop him from peddling allegedly sham tax shelters involving Brazilian consumer debt.
The Justice Department said Wednesday that since at least 2003 John E. Rogers has devised illegal tax schemes for more than 100 customers who have claimed more than $370 million in improper tax deductions. Get the full story »
FCC seeks more information on NBC, Comcast deal
The Federal Communications Commission is requesting more information from Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal. Regulators are reviewing the cable operator’s plan to acquire a controlling stake in the media company. Get the full story »
