Daytona Beach-based Halifax Health has spent $22.8 million over the past five years, defending itself against a whistle-blower lawsuit, according to a Daytona News-Journal report.
This month, Halifax settled the second portion of a two-part case, pending final approval from the federal government. The case was filed against the health system under the qui tam, or whistle-blower, provision of the False Claims Act. Halifax paid $86 million to settle both parts of the case: $85 million in the first part, which was settled in March, and another $1 million in July to settle the second portion.
To defend itself during the five-year long legal battle, Halifax paid $22.8 million to 11 attorneys from various law firms. McDermott, Will & Emery served as lead counsel in the case, and Halifax paid the firm $17.7 million for its services. The highest-billing attorney retained to defend Halifax was Anthony Upshaw, a partner at McDermott, Will & Emery, who charged $935 an hour for his services, according to the report.
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