3\/07\/16 – A federal judge has dismissed part of the federal government\u2019s civil fraud lawsuit against Lance Armstrong, giving the disgraced cyclist a small but potentially significant victory in a case that still could cost him $100 million.<\/p>\n
The ruling \u2013 finalized Monday \u2013\u00a0throws out the government\u2019s argument that Armstrong\u2019s cycling team had an obligation to pay back sponsorship money it received from the U.S. Postal Service.<\/p>\n
Under the law of \u201creverse\u201d false claims, the government had argued that the team was required to return this money because it breached its sponsorship contract by using banned drugs and blood transfusions to enhance its performance.<\/p>\n
But U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper disagreed, ruling that the notion of reverse false claims should be more narrowly applied and didn\u2019t fit this case.\u00a0 He dismissed it\u00a0Monday in summary judgment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government \u2026 contends \u2013\u00a0again\u00a0\u2013 that long-established principles of contract and restitution law obligated (the cycling team owner) to repay any funds attributable to a breach of the Sponsorship Agreement,\u201d Cooper wrote. \u201cThe Court rejected this view after considerable briefing.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result, the government might have a harder time proving it was defrauded and suffered damages from Armstrong\u2019s banned doping practices as a member of the USPS cycling team. Several other parts of the government\u2019s case against Armstrong are still in play, including its allegation that the cycling team made direct false claims for payment to the USPS. Read more<\/a><\/p>\n