Former federal prosecutor Amy Easton has joined whistleblower law firm Phillips & Cohen in Washington, D.C.

During her twelve years with the Justice Department, Easton investigated and litigated False Claims Act cases, focusing primarily on health care fraud matters involving upcoding, Stark Act violations, kickbacks, medical devices, lack of medical necessity and failure to provide proper care.

“Amy’s exceptional skills and extensive experience as a trial attorney for the Justice Department in Medicare fraud cases and other types of healthcare fraud matters will be a great asset for our whistleblower clients,” said Erika Kelton, a partner at Phillips & Cohen LLP. “She is a top-notch litigator who understands the challenges our clients face and will work closely with them to stop healthcare fraud and return taxpayer money to the federal Treasury.”

Easton was a lead prosecutor in many successful whistleblower cases that the government joined, including most recently a qui tam whistleblower lawsuit against more than 500 hospitals in 43 states, making it one of the largest qui tam cases ever.

The hospitals paid a total of more than $280 million to settle allegations that they had implanted heart devices known as cardioverter defibrillators too soon after patients’ heart attacks or heart surgery.

Easton also investigated and resolved whistleblower cases involving other types of fraud against the government, such as one alleging fraudulent contractor claims for payment submitted to Amtrak and the Department of Transportation and separate case against a bank that alleged fraud in mortgage loans submitted to US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“I am very excited to be working with whistleblowers and Phillips & Cohen, whose reputation as the top whistleblower law firm is well deserved,” said Easton. “It’s great to have this opportunity to continue working for the public good while in private practice.”