USA EX. REL STONER v. SANTA CLARA
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today released an opinion in USA EX. REL STONER v. SANTA CLARA, No. 04-15984, an appeal in a civil action brought by the United States. The panel consisted of Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and Sandra S. Ikuta, Circuit Judges, and Leonard B. Sand, Senior District Judge.
IKUTA, Circuit Judge:
Under the False Claims Act (”FCA”), “[a]ny person” who, among other things, "knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, to an officer or employee of the United States Government . . . a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval” is liable to the Government for a civil penalty, treble damages, and costs. 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1). The FCA authorizes a private person, known as a relator, to bring a qui tam civil action “for a violation of section 3729 for the person and for the United States Government. . . . in the name of the Government.” 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(1). This case requires us to decide whether a pro se relator may bring a qui tam action in federal court on behalf of the government against various actors in the California school system. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Appellant John David Stoner brought this qui tam action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Santa Clara County Office of Education (”SCCOE”), his former employer, the East Side Union High School District (”ESUHSD”), and three SCCOE employees, Colleen Wilcox, Joe Fimiani, and David Wong. In the pro. . .