Hurricane Katrina Contractor Accepts $4 Million Judgment Under the False Claims

WASHINGTON – The United States has settled its claims filed under the False Claims Act against Lighthouse Disaster Relief and its partners, Gary Heldreth and Kerry Farmer. In its complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, the United States alleged that Lighthouse, Heldreth, and Farmer accepted a $5.3 million payment for work that was not completely performed on a contract with the Department of Homeland Security. The United States filed suit against Heldreth, Farmer and Lighthouse alleging that the defendants knowingly breached their contract to build and operate a basecamp to house and feed first responders who went to New Orleans to help with rescue and recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The complaint alleged that the defendants mad