The Lanier Law Firm Supports Attorney General Ken Paxton in Reaching $45 Million Settlement with Gilead in Unlawful Inducement Scheme

Litigation sought reimbursements for violations of state law in prescribing practices, charges to Medicaid program

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building on decades of holding pharmaceutical companies responsible for dangerous products and unlawful business practices, The Lanier Law Firm played a pivotal role supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in securing a $45 million settlement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. Announced on Oct. 22, the settlement resolves claims that the company offered illegal incentives to medical providers to prescribe its drugs over competitors’ medications.

In many cases, these prescriptions resulted in millions of dollars in claims submitted to Texas Medicaid in violation of the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act. As outlined in the lawsuit, Gilead allegedly offered other incentives such as “free nurses” and reimbursement support services to further influence medical providers to prescribe the company’s products.

In the litigation initially filed in 2023, the firm’s Mark Lanier, Zeke DeRose, Jonathan Wilkerson and Alex Brown represented Health Choice Advocates, whose mission is to investigate and bring Medicaid fraud litigation against major pharmaceutical companies. Attorneys with the firm of McKool Smith PC served as co-counsel for the non-profit company.

“As we’ve seen in many other cases, Big Pharma is often motivated by corporate profits rather than what is best and safest for patients, and what is in compliance with the law,” says Mr. Lanier. “We are proud to stand with the State of Texas in exposing this kickback scheme and prevent further abuse of taxpayer funds and the Medicaid program.”

The firm is also supporting ongoing and separate litigation brought by the Attorney General against Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Novartis and Eli Lilly and Company for similar claims of unlawful prescribing practices and fraud.

About the Lanier Law Firm

For more than 30 years, the men and women at The Lanier Law Firm have worked tirelessly, throughout the United States, to find unique and effective solutions for their clients. More than 60 skilled attorneys practice law in a broad array of areas, including business litigation, pharmaceutical litigation, asbestos exposure, oil and gas litigation, personal injury as well as defective and dangerous products, among others. Named an Elite Trial Law Firm by The National Law Journal, The Lanier Law Firm has offices in Houston, New York, Fort Worth and Los Angeles. To learn more, visit http://www.lanierlawfirm.com.