Accounting giant pays $42 million to settle dispute over travel expenses

[The Straight Story]

Accounting giant pays $42 million to settle dispute over travel expenses

By Kimberly Palmer
[e-mail]

The accounting and consulting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers agreed to pay the government $41.9 million in response to allegations that it defrauded agencies by inflating its travel expenses. PWC did not admit wrongdoing under the settlement.

A task force including the Justice Department Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and the Army's Criminal Investigation Division determined that PWC had overcharged the government for travel expenditures that were reimbursed through contracts with federal agencies. According to the task force, PWC received rebates from credit card and travel companies, but still charged the government for the full amounts.

PWC spokesman David Nestor said the company changed the policy that "gave rise" to the cost problems in 2001. The settlement involves charges from 1990 to 2003.

A retired PWC partner, Neil Roberts, filed the case in 2000 under the False Claims Act. Roberts could receive up to $10.4 million under federal whistleblower statutes.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0705/072505k1.htm

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. And ** wants to put a "no regulations needed" guy like Cox in the SEC