This was the original article naming the 5 adjusting firms and the carriers involved in this newly unsealed whistleblowers case( the 4 adjuster whistleblowers are not named):
http://www.propertyandcasualtyinsur...OODSCAM-dh
Note, I've not been able to find a website for Branch Consultants,LLC and this article even mentions they can't find the office,etc
Here is the link to the news from yesterday about the Judge demanding federal intervention of the US Justice Department:
http://blog.nola.com/tpmoney/2007/0...se_de.html
Be sure also to read this story which outlines how VERY much these whistleblowers will earn on this. While its reduced if there is federal involvement, it's still a HUGE sum of money if the allegations are founded:
I found the article specifying how much these whistleblowers stand to gain- here is what it says so if the federal government does get involved, they will get reduced fees but it would still be a huge windfall to these whistleblowers due to the extent alleged to be involved:
If whistleblowers are successful in pursuing the suit without the U.S. attorney's intervention, they could be awarded as much as 30 percent of the proceeds if the suit is victorious. If the U.S. attorney's office decides later to take over the investigation and the effort is successful, the whistleblowers' take is reduced to 15 percent to 25 percent of the proceeds, Dugas said, because the government is the one doing the heavy lifting.
Under the False Claims Act, anyone who knowingly submits fake bills to the government is liable for three times the amount of damages sustained by the government, according to the Branch suit. There is also a civil penalty.
Above is info from this article...see link to view all info
http://www.nola.com/timespic/storie...thispage=4
It's on page 4 of this 6 page story.