The Supreme Court Clarifies the Knowledge Element of the False Claims Act

On June 1st, 2023, the Supreme Court released its decision in United States v. Supervalu Inc. (No. 21–1326), clarifying the knowledge element under the False Claims Act (“FCA”).

In this case, the Court addressed the question of whether the knowledge required by the FCA is satisfied when a party correctly understands the standard but believes their claims to be inaccurate. The Court unanimously held that the FCA’s knowledge standard is determined by the defendant’s own knowledge and subjective beliefs, rather than an objectively reasonable interpretation as argued by the Respondents.

You can access the full opinion of the Supreme Court in United States v. Supervalu Inc., here. Should you have any inquiries or concerns about the implications of this ruling on your business or legal matters, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation.

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