Athena Construction Ordered to Pay $1 Million in Fraud Suit (1)

Athena Construction Group Inc. must pay about $1 million for violating the False Claims Act by making misrepresentations about its eligibility to receive contracts set aside for HUBZone companies, a Washington jury ruled Monday.

Whistleblower Vickie Smith showed that Athena submitted 18 materially false or fraudulent claims to the government, the jury concluded. Judge Amit P. Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia presided over the trial.

The ultimate award will be close to $4.5 million after adding statutory penalties and fines, said Smith’s attorney, Glenn Ellis of Philadelphia.

The jury also rejected Smith’s argument that ...