Summary
A former cancer research physician at Northwestern University, Dr. Charles L. Bennett, agreed to a settlement in a federal False Claims Act Lawsuit after a former employee and whistleblower
ought forth claims that Bennett misappropriated funds. The suit alleged that Dr. Bennett and others submitted false claims under research grants from the NIH for goods and services that did not meet applicable NIH and government guidelines.
Please read Former Northwestern Physician to Pay the United States $475,000 to Settle Cancer Research Grant Fraud Claims
*** Address the problems in this case in terms of interpersonal communication***
Rather than focus on the moral dilemma of this case, focus on areas of potential communication
eakdown, and think of how this situation could have been avoided with better communication practices in place. The goal of this assignment is to analyze areas where potential issues arose due to poor communication procedures and offer recommendations for best practices for communication within a clinical research study to prevent this type of fraudulent behavior from happening in the future.
***Each Question Has to be answered***
1. How can you apply the Four Cs of team Performance to this case? In terms of Context, what might we say about the culture of the organization in terms of reporting questionable practices within a study? In terms of Competencies, what potential issues might exist that prevented clear communication, good decision making, and positive conflict management? In terms of Change, what factors might have prohibited the team’s ability to monitor the budget and make necessary changes? How might you address Composition in this case?
2. Who do you think is ultimately responsible for the decision and practices in this case?
3. Do you think power differentials affected the communication in this case?
4. What key factors of communication should be considered while devising a plan to prevent this type of fraudulent behavior in the future?
5. What are the potential long-term ramifications for Northwestern University due to the outcome of this case?
6. What best practices would you recommend to Northwestern to prevent this type of dilemma to occur in the future?
7. What other questions should you address to identify the problems found in this case?
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 30, 2014
U.S. Attorneys » Northern District of Illinois » News
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Illinois
Former Northwestern Physician To Pay The United States
$475,000 To Settle Cancer Research Grant Fraud Claims
CHICAGO — A former cancer research physician at Northwestern University’s Robert H. Lurie
Comprehensive Center for Cancer in Chicago will pay the United States $475,000 to settle claims of
federal research grant fraud. Dr. Charles L. Bennett agreed to the settlement in a federal False Claims
Act lawsuit that was first made public last year after the government investigated the claims made by a
former employee and whistleblower who will receive a portion of the settlement.
In July 2013, Northwestern University agreed to pay the United States $2.93 million to settle identical
claims against the university. Northwestern, which fully cooperated during the investigation, did not admit
liability as part of the settlement.
In a settlement agreement filed today in U.S. District Court, Dr. Bennett, of Columbia, S. Car., also did not
admit liability, nor did the government concede that its claims were not well-founded.
In a lawsuit filed in January this year, the government contended that Dr. Bennett submitted false claims
under research grants from the National Institutes of Health. The settlement covers improper claims that
Dr. Bennett submitted for reimbursement from the federal grants for professional and consulting services,
food, hotels, travel, conference registration fees, and other expenses that benefited Dr. Bennett, his
friends, and family from Jan. 1, 2003, through Aug. 31, 2010.
The allegations were initially made in a civil lawsuit filed under seal in 2009 by Melissa Theis, who in
2007 and 2008 worked as a purchasing coordinator in hematology and oncology at Northwestern’s
Feinberg School of Medicine. She will receive $80,750 from the settlement with Dr. Bennett, and earlie
she received $498,100 from the settlement with Northwestern. Her suit, which the government late
settled on her behalf, alleged that the defendants submitted false claims to the United States when Dr.
Bennett and others directed and authorized the spending of grant funds on goods and services that did
not meet applicable NIH and government grant guidelines.
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The allegations were investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of
Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S.
Attorney’s Office. The government contended Northwestern improperly submitted claims to NIH for grant
expenditures for items that were for the personal benefit of Dr. Bennett, his friends and family that were
incu
ed in connection with grants as to which he was the principal investigator.
The settlement with Dr. Bennett resolves the remaining claims and effectively ends the litigation. The
agreement reserves the authority of any federal agency, including HHS, to take any administrative action,
such as suspending or deba
ing Dr. Bennett from receiving future research grants. United States v.
Charles L. Bennett, M.D., No. 09 C 1943 (N.D. Ill.).
Dr. Bennett agreed to pay the settlement by Dec. 1, XXXXXXXXXXThe agreement covers allegations that false
claims were submitted to NIH for costs that Dr. Bennett incu
ed on his grant-funded research projects
involving adverse drug-events, multiple myeloma drugs, a blood disorder known as thrombotic
thrombocytopenic purpura, and quality of care for cancer patients. Dr. Bennett allegedly billed those
federal grants for family trips, meals and hotels for himself and friends, and “consulting fees” fo
unqualified friends and family members, including his
other and cousin.
The settlement with Dr. Bennett was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern
District of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General –
Chicago Region, and the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt N. Lindland.
Settlement Agreement
Component(s): USAO - Illinois, Northern
Updated July 27, 2015
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