Boeing has agreed to pay $2 million to the Justice Department to settle a whistle-blower’s previously sealed claims that the company overbilled the government for work done at a plant in San Antonio. The government joined in a 2006 lawsuit filed by former Boeing employee Edward Quintana, who claimed Boeing manipulated records to show others besides him had been maintaining Air Force KC-135 tankers when they had not, according to Associated Press. The lawsuit was kept secret while the Justice Department investigated Quintana’s claims. Boeing spokeswoman Deborah Vannierop said the company denied it made false claims but cooperated with the review and has corrected “internal charging” issues. Assistant U.S. Attorney Harold Brown Jr. helped negotiate the settlement. Quintana’s lawyers say he is entitled to as much as 25 percent of the $2 million payout. Vannierop declined comment on Quintana’s lawsuit that Boeing retaliated and fired him because he reported the alleged violations and said the company encourages employees to report wrongdoing.
Boeing Pays $2M to Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit
The company denied it made false claims but cooperated with the review and has corrected “internal charging” issues.
August 12, 2009