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For Immediate Release: Oct. 8, 2014
W. Scott Simmer Launches the Simmer Law Group PLLC
Washington, D.C. - Whistleblower attorney W. Scott Simmer announced today that he
has established his own firm, the Simmer Law Group PLLC. The new firm represents
whistleblowers who have filed cases alleging fraud that financially impacted state and
federal governments in the areas of health care, for-profit education and government
contracting; as well as insurance plans in large scale recovery actions.
Simmer began investigating health care fraud over 20 years ago as the head of litigation
in the Principal Financial Group. He left Principal to pursue affirmative fraud litigation on
behalf of individual whistleblowers; employer and union health plans; and third-party
payors such as several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. In 2009, his clients helped the
Department of Justice make one of the largest health care fraud recoveries on record,
the $2.3 billion settlement with Pfizer for the illegal marketing of four drugs. In 2012,
Simmer played a significant role in the government’s $1.5 billion settlement with Abbott
Laboratories for unlawful promotion of the drug Depakote. He is also lead counsel for a
sub-class of 19 insurance companies in a $325 million third-party payor suit brought
against Warner-Lambert related to the 2004 settlement over the off-label promotion of
Neurontin.
A senior partner in Blank Rome’s DC office for the past six years, Simmer said that
starting his own firm is a logical progression for a plaintiff’s practice. Joining him as
partners in the Simmer Law Group are two other former Blank Rome attorneys – Tom
Poulin, who has 15 years experience in the field and represented both of the
whistleblowers in last week’s $3.5 million settlement with Enzo Clinical Labs involving
alleged falsification of claims to Medicare and Medicaid; and former Blank Rome senior
associate Andrew Miller, who has nearly 10 years experience in False Claims Act cases.
“When Tom and I joined Blank Rome, our practice was focused narrowly on drug fraud
litigation. The publicity around some of our more high profile cases attracted potential
clients in other industry sectors that we couldn’t represent because of potential conflicts
with other practices in the firm,” Simmer said. “I’m really grateful for all Blank Rome has
done to make this transition for my practice, my team and our clients as smooth as
possible, and I look forward to working with several of my former partners on matters of
mutual interest.”
While he has not courted a high profile, Simmer has a reputation for simplifying the
complicated. “Scott Simmer takes complex fraud cases and writes rock-solid complaints
that tell simple stories supported by detailed evidence,” says Patrick Burns, co-executive
director of Taxpayers Against Fraud. “That’s exactly what you want in a False Claims Act
case. Before you open the file, you know you are going to read to the end.”
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Simmer Law Group PLLC • The Watergate, Suite 10-A
600 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. • Washington, DC 20037
MAIN: 202.333.4562 • FAX: 202.337.1039 1 Stephen Weiss of Seeger Weiss, a co-counsel on several cases, says Simmer and his
team are also fierce champions for their clients. “Scott is the rare advocate who
combines legal brilliance with a nuanced understanding of his clients’ objectives and the
means to achieve them. He’s at the tip of the sword of our profession and I look forward
to a continued alliance with him and his team.”
The Simmer Law Group’s offices are based in Washington’s Watergate Complex.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Photo: The new Simmer Law Group – Tom Poulin, Scott Simmer and Andrew Miller.
(Higher resolution photo available on request.)
Media Relations: Peggy Schoen, 202-441-1531, [email protected]
Simmer Law Group PLLC • The Watergate, Suite 10-A
600 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. • Washington, DC 20037
MAIN: 202.333.4562 • FAX: 202.337.1039 2