381 F.2d 421 | Ct. Cl. | 1967
Lead Opinion
OPINION
We are told by government counsel that this is the last of the so-called “schools” cases.
At this point some history is helpful. After the initial contract expired, a new rate had to be established as veterans continued to enroll in the course through 1950 — in fact, until 1957. The administrative procedure had its origin in the 1944 G.I. Bill. Section 400(b) of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, 58 Stat. 284, 289, provided as follows:
The [VA] Administrator shall pay to the educational or training institution, for each person enrolled in full time' or part time course of education or training, the customary cost' of tuition, * * *: Provided * * * That if any such institution has no established tuition fee, or if its established tuition fee shall be found by the Administrator to be inadequate compensation to such institution for furnishing such education or training, he is authorized to provide for the payment, with respect to any such person, of such fair and reasonable compensation as will not exceed $500 for an ordinary school year. [Emphasis added.]
In regulations made effective July 1, 1948, the VA arbitrarily chose 30 weeks as the minimum period for the establishment of a customary tuition cost. That only covered nonprofit institutions, however. For “courses of 30 weeks or more,” profit institutions were required to submit “detailed, certified financial statements showing the most recent actual cost experience of the institution for the specific courses involved” so that a “fair and reasonable compensation” could be determined. Change 4 to Manual 7-5, 38 C.F.R. § 21.530 (1949 Ed.). The regulations stated that “all expenses, except expenses for sales commissions and promotional plans, which are reasonable and necessary for the operation of the courses involved will be included in the cost statement,” suggesting that any reasonably related expense would be compensable. This regulation was in effect on January 1, 1950 when plaintiff’s contract, covering the preceding 11 months and providing for a rate of $.50 per student-hour, expired.
This scheme — particularly the treatment of “customary cost of tuition”— was not entirely satisfactory to either the VA or the schools, so Congress responded with two remedial bills. The first was appended to the Independent Offices Appropriation Act of 1950, 63 Stat. 631, 653 (1949). It provided that for courses subject to contract for two successive years the tuition rate would be the rate established by the most recent contract. For courses without a “customary cost,” a “fair and reasonable” rate would be fixed by the VA. Administrative review was assured by the creation of a “Veterans’ Tuition Appeals Board.” The second bill, enacted the following year, preserved the customary cost definition of the first, changed the name of the administrative board to the “Veterans*' Education Appeals Board” (VEAB), and elevated the provisions to
Thus, at the time plaintiff and the VA were negotiating a new rate for the Radio Technology course for the calendar year 1950, the VA interpreted the law to mean that a prerequisite for a customary rate was a 2-year history, and that where there was no customary rate a fair and reasonable rate would have to be determined by the contracting officer. On October 13, 1950, the contracting officer determined that a rate of $.3127 per student-hour was fair and reasonable, and offered plaintiff a contract on that basis. Plaintiff objected to the rate and rejected the offer. Thereafter, on November 1, 1950, the VA renewed its offer with a rate of $.36 per student-hour. Plaintiff appealed the second determination to the VEAB on November 10. Its Notice of Appeal contended that $.533 per student-hour was the minimum fair and reasonable rate, or alternatively, that a customary cost of tuition of $.50 per student-hour should apply. A hearing followed. Almost one year later, on November 1, 1951, a VEAB hearing examiner announced his decision holding that the Radio Technology course had not acquired a customary cost of tuition because it had not been under contract for two successive years, so that a fair and reasonable tuition rate had to be determined; this he set at $.51 per student-hour. The latter determination was appealed by the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs to the Board which, on January 15, 1953, issued a final decision holding that a fair and reasonable rate for the calendar year 1950 was $.419 per student-hour. Plaintiff was accordingly paid at the rate of $.419 for the year 1950. For the period after 1951, plaintiff was paid at the same rate because at the end of 1951, $.419 became the customary cost of tuition. Plaintiff reserved its right to contest all payments in court.
Plaintiff filed its petition
The government answered on September 13, 1957, and raised the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense. 28 U.S.C. § 2501 (1964 Ed.). It alleged that the portion of the claim which accrued before June 4, 1951 was time-barred. Three years later, in July 1960, the defendant obtained leave of the court to amend its answer to add three counterclaims. The first and second counterclaims were founded on the False Claims Act which provides that any person who submits or aids in making a false claim “shall forfeit and pay to the United States the sum of $2,000, and, in addi
We address ourselves first to the statute of limitations problem, .then to the merits of plaintiff’s claim for a higher tuition rate, and finally to defendant’s counterclaims.
I. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
Section 2501 of 28 U.S.C. (1964 Ed.) bars a claim in this court “unless the petition thereon is filed within six years after such claim first accrues.” Recently the court reviewed in detail the application of the “first accrual” language to breach claims and disputes clause claims under the standard government contract. Nager Electric Co. v. United States, 368 F.2d 847, 177 Ct.Cl. • — • (1966). We held that the right of action on disputes arising under the contract (disputes clause claims) first accrues when the administrative action is final, and that a like result should obtain for “a ‘breach claim’ under a contract which has also spawned ‘disputes-type’ items in litigation' * * because of the principle that one indivisible contract normally gives rise only to one cause of action.” 368 F.2d, at 865. The Supreme Court adopted this approach as to disputes clause claims in Crown Coat Front Co. v. United States, 386 U.S. 503, 510, 87 S.Ct. 1177, 18 L.Ed.2d 256 (1967); it did not reach the question of the time of first accrual for breach claims.
This case is not here for review of an administrative decision rendered under a disputes clause. See 41 U.S.C. §§ 321-322 (1964 Ed.). Nor is it here as a breach claim. So Nager Electric might be thought to have no application. However, the reasoning used there is extremely instructive in establishing what formula should be applied in this case. The starting point in Nager Electric was the general rule that first accrual should be “the time when all events have occurred to fix the Government’s alleged liability, entitling the claimant to demand payment and sue here for his money.” 368 F.2d, at 851. It was further stated that “[t]he prerequisite that the plaintiff must be able lawfully to demand payment goes back to the early days of this court.” Ibid. Both points were supported by numerous citations. There then followed an analysis of the rule in contract cases before the mandatory disputes clause era and a discussion of aberrations caused by agreements, special statutes, and other factors. The thread running through this analysis is “that there is no single inexorable principle of limitations for contract litigation but that the individual terms, conditions, and practices must always be
It should be recalled that the contract covering the Radio Technology course terminated on December 31, 1949, but that plaintiff continued to instruct veterans thereafter. The VA advised plaintiff on September 6, 1950 that it would pay an “interim [tuition] rate” of $.30 per student-hour (as compared with $.50 under the old contract). The letter assured plaintiff that payment of the interim rate would be “without prejudice to [its] * * * right * * * to receive such rate as may be established in the final contract.” The interim rate was boosted to $.375 on November 13, 1950, after plaintiff filed its appeal of the $.36 offer. At this time, plaintiff was instructed to submit vouchers setting forth only the total number of hours of instruction furnished, without any designation of individual students or the number of hours furnished to them. These instructions also advised plaintiff it would ultimately have to prepare an itemized schedule listing each veteran and all applicable fees, to be submitted after determination of a final rate. In a letter dated January 30, 1951, the VA continued this bulk billing arrangement. On July 17, 1952, the VA reversed its position on the bulk billing method; it notified plaintiff it would be given two months to prepare final vouchers in detail and with respect to each veteran for the period of interim payments, and that henceforth interim payments would be made only on the basis of detailed billings for each veteran. Then, on September 26, 1952, the VA sent another letter specifying the procedure for interim payments with regard to each of the following periods: January 1 to December 31, 1950; January 1 to April 30, 1951; from May 1,1951 on. This letter also defined and set forth procedures covering attendance, absences, and make-up instruction — procedures which had theretofore been undetermined.
This fact pattern suggests to us that plaintiff was not in a position to demand payment of a higher rate until July 17, 1952, at the earliest, and probably September 26, 1952. It appears that from 1950 on, both plaintiff and the VA anticipated that there would be a contract which would establish a rate to apply retroactively and prospectively and which would govern the procedure for determining the number of compensable hours of instruction. In fact, the parties were never able to agree on a formal contract and the VA had to unilaterally establish the procedure for substantiating tuition claims for veteran students, and perhaps more importantly, standards for reasonable absences. This it did on September 26, 1952. Before that date plaintiff could perhaps have demanded payment of a higher rate and sued upon any refusal, but that would have been inconsistent with the arrangement contemplated by the contracting parties. For all plaintiff knew, the VA might have ultimately given it everything it desired; at least it was not unreasonable for plaintiff to negotiate for two years, hoping that the final arrangements would be satisfactory. In short, we think this is a case in which the familiar principle that first accrual occurs only upon completion of performance should bend to “the individual terms, conditions, and practices” of the particular situation, which point here to September 26, 1952 “as the time when all events * * * occurred to fix the Government’s alleged liability”. Nager Electric Co., supra, 368 F.2d, at 851. Plaintiff’s entire claim is therefore timely.
The government directs our attention to Empire Institute of Tailoring, Inc. v. United States, 161 F.Supp. 409, 142 Ct.Cl. 165 (1958), a rather similar schools case in which the court held a claim time-
The Trial Commissioner found the decision of the VEAB (holding (1) that a tuition rate of $.419 per student-hour for the Radio Technology course was fair and reasonable, and (2) that the estimated annual instructional hours for the course should be 148,720 hours) was “arbitrary, capricious, erroneous, and not supported by substantial evidence.” On the basis of the administrative record and the record made in a trial de novo before him, he determined that the fair and reasonable rate of tuition for the period commencing January 1, 1950 was $.494 per student-hour and that the proper annual instructional hour figure was 145,090. Plaintiff now urges adoption of these findings as modified by the addition of $.024 per student-hour for the allocable cost of supervisory personnel. Defendant argues that the Board decision should not be overturned or modified because its conclusions were supported by the record made before it.
The tuition rate per student-hour is determined by totaling expenditures on each of the following items and dividing each total by the number of instructional hours over which it should be spread: Teaching Personnel, Consumable Supplies, Operation and Maintenance, Taxes and Insurance, Administrative Expenses, Depreciation, Rent and Advertising. This produces the correct allocation per student-hour of each cost item. A profit allowance of one-ninth of the total of all costs per student-hour is then added to produce the tuition rate. We briefly review each of the contested components below.
The Board determined that the estimated enrollment in the Radio Technology Course should be 148,720 annual instructional hours for the calendar year 1950. It will be remembered that this figure is the divisor for the purpose of allocating aggregate costs. It arrived at this figure by arbitrarily assuming an enrollment of 44 students in each session (78.57% of the maximum capacity of 56 permitted by the City of New York building regulations) and multiplying this by the 65 hours of instruction per week given in three sessions (44 students per session x 65 hours per week x 52 weeks per year). The Board noted in passing that this estimate was consistent with the actual experience shown by the cost statement for the first 10 months of 1950. The Trial Commissioner adjusted the Board's figure to take account of the six national holidays which fall in each year. This gives an annual instructional hour figure of 145,090 which both parties accept and which we adopt.
Under VA regulations, plaintiff was entitled to be compensated through the tuition rate for the “[ajctual cost of teaching and related personnel at reasonable salaries,” the latter category (related personnel) to include “personnel essential to the teaching function such as laboratory supply room attendants and clerical personnel assisting teachers in the preparation of instructional material and records.” 38 C.F.R. § 21.530(b) (1) (1949 Ed.). It appears to be undisputed that generally a tuition rate should in-
With regard to the instructors, allocation of their cost to each student-hour of instruction depends on the student-teacher ratio — the lower the ratio, the higher the cost. The Board projected an enrollment of 44 students per session and determined that two teachers would be adequate. This produced a ratio of 22 to 1. We have reviewed the evidence which was before the Board and conclude that the proper ratio is 18 to 1. The Radio Technology course had two aspects; students were taught theory in lecture classes and practice in laboratory classes. The breakdown by hours was 75 percent lecture classes and 25 percent laboratory classes. The capacity of the laboratory was 14 students. This information alone might support the 22 to 1 figure (as well as some higher or lower ratio). There is other evidence, however, indicating 22 to 1 is too high. The VA, in presenting its case to both the Hearing Examiner and the Board on appeal, asked for an 18 to 1 ratio. The plaintiff’s cost data for the period from November 1, 1949 through October 31, 1950, showed that the actual experience for this period was a 12.8 to 1 ratio. This information suggests that the proper ratio is something less than 22 to 1. The 18 to 1 ratio is supported by the evidence and is in fact a figure satisfactory to both plaintiff and the VA, if not to government counsel.
The student-teacher ratio is applied to the projected student enrollment and the annual rate of compensation per teacher to compute the total figure for “teachers’ salaries.” In its computation of the cost of instruction, the Board used its 22 to 1 ratio and the salary figures stated in the union contracts ($5,565 per annum for day teachers; $3,339 per annum for night teachers). Plaintiff objects to this computation or two grounds. It objects to the ratio and contends the salary figures are understated because instruction was furnished 52 weeks per year which necessitated substitute teachers for the period the permanent teachers were on vacation. The evidence is clear that all instructors were entitled to three weeks vacation with pay so it must be concluded that the Board’s total figures understated the true salary cost. We adopt the Commissioner’s method of computation which multiplies 2% teachers for each session (the 18:1 ratio applied to 44 students per session) times the annual compensation per teacher as augmented by a vacation allowance.
Plaintiff asks for a similar adjustment (to take account of annual leave) for its laboratory assistants’ expense. It also urges that the figure allowed by the Board should be substantially adjusted upward to reflect the cost of a laboratory assistant or stock room man for every session. The Board apparently determined that the figure used in plaintiff’s cost statement for the period November 1, 1949 to October 30, 1950, was correct and decided accordingly. That figure most likely takes account of the annual leave cost; this follows from the fact that plaintiff’s prior cost statement accounted for the effect of annual leave on these personnel. We agree with the Commissioner that plaintiff has not shown the Board figure to be unsupported by substantial evidence. We also note plaintiff has not been able to prove that its present figure is more accurate than the Board’s.
As noted earlier, the regulations’ definition of “teaching personnel” is sufficiently broad to comprehend supervisory personnel. Defendant would concede this on the condition that the supervisors be “necessary to the performance of the instructional function in the particular course involved.” The Board held that plaintiff failed to prove the necessity of three supervisors to the teaching of the Radio Technology course, and our Commissioner has agreed. We conclude plaintiff should prevail on this point, and that its allocation is reasonable. The supervisors in issue were charged with reviewing the conduct of
All salaries were subject to a 4.6 percent payroll tax. There is no dispute that this was part of the salary cost to plaintiff and may be included in the “Teaching Personnel” cost. Thus, the correct computation of the “Teaching Personnel” item is as follows: instructors’ salaries, $37,375; laboratory assistants’ salaries, $2,709.25; supervisors’ salaries, $3,312; payroll tax (4.6% of $43,396.25), $1,996.23; total “Teaching Personnel,” $45,392.48; “Teaching Personnel” per student-hour ($45,392.48 divided by 145,090 hours), $.3129.
The Commissioner also made findings with respect to operation and maintenance, depreciation, and rent expenses. In each case he found that plaintiff had not shown that the Board’s decision was unsupported by substantial evidence, and he refused to consider offers of proof which supported allocation theories not presented to the Board. He did, however, modify the Board’s computations to take account of the changed student enrollment figure. Neither plaintiff nor defendant contest the findings at this stage. We ,adopt the Commissioner’s computations for this reason and omit references to the substantial evidence test and the refusal to consider offers of proof.
The addition of the supervisors’ salaries and the profit allowance on them (%) to “Teaching Personnel” brings the “fair and reasonable” tuition rate to $.5209 per student-hour. This is more than the $.50 per student-hour claimed in the alternative by plaintiff as the “customary cost of tuition.” No doubt plaintiff would be happy to abandon this alternative now, and the defendant would like us to adopt it. We think it is quite clear from the statutory scheme, however, that plaintiff had no “customary cost of tuition” in 1950 since the course was only 11 months old, so the VA and the Board quite properly sought to establish the “fair and reasonable” rate which we have redetermined.
III. DEFENDANT’S COUNTERCLAIMS
(A) First Counterclaim— “846” Students
Defendant’s first counterclaim alleges that Frank Simon, Benjamin Eizenman and their partnership, Eastern School, prepared false vouchers and submitted
We agree with the Commissioner that defendant has the burden to prove by “clear and convincing” evidence that plaintiff knew the claims in question here were false, fictitious, or fraudulent. See Klein v. United States, 285 F.2d 778, 786, 152 Ct.Cl. 8, 23 (1961); Kamen Soap Products Co. v. United States, 124 F.Supp. 608, 620, 129 Ct.Cl. 619, 642 (1954); United States v. Grannis, 172 F.2d 507 (4th Cir.), cert, denied, 337 U.S. 918, 69 S.Ct. 1160, 93 L.Ed. 1727 (1949); McCormick, Evidence § 320 (1954). And we are mindful of the fact that the familiar presumption of correctness of a Commissioner’s findings has additional force here because of the obvious importance of demeanor and credibility which cannot be effectively reviewed in a “cold, printed record.” See Note, Appellate Review in the Federal Courts of Findings Requiring More than a Preponderance of the Evidence, 60 Harv.L.Rev. 111, 112 (1946). However, we do not adopt all his ultimate findings on the first counterclaim because we differ somewhat on the proper application of the burden of proof test; the defendant has not persuaded us by clear and convincing evidence that plaintiff or its partners or agents knowingly submitted false claims.
At most, there is clear and convincing evidence that five of the eight veterans were absent for periods when they were marked present, and that four of the five who were absent informed Simon, Eizenman or an instructor that they would be absent. As the sketches of the five veterans below will show, these facts do not prove fraud.
For example, the Commissioner found that Anthony P. Papevies was absent at least seven days in July 1955 although the voucher submitted to the VA showed him absent only two days. Papevies testified that he recalled vacationing in Pennsylvania for two full weeks during that July. It is reasonable to assume that his recollection is reliable absent proof to the contrary. He also testified that he told either Simon or Eizenmen that he planned to be absent, and that
The unreported absence of Maurice E. DeCuir for 12 days in August 1954 is proved not only by his testimony but also by stamped airline ticket envelopes included in the record on an offer of proof.
The evidence relating to Louis Fish-man’s alleged absence for 11 days in July 1955 is again recollection testimony which plaintiff seeks to discredit by referring to a written statement which Fishman gave to the FBI in 1958. He apparently said then that he vacationed in June or July 1955. This statement was not' introduced in evidence; it would not serve plaintiff’s purpose if it were. We adopt the Commissioner’s finding that he was absent for 11 school days in July 1955, but do not find fraud. Here there is not even any testimony that Simon or Eizenman told him it would be all right to be away; he only testified that he told Eizenman and an instructor. We cannot infer from this and the fact that he was reported absent for only two days that plaintiff truly had knowledge of the absences. The clear and convincing standard requires something more than a showing that one student of hundreds stopped a school officer in the hall to report a prospective absence.
Much the same can be said of the evidence relating to Rudolph Stone’s attendance. He was reported absent for two days in each of July and August 1955, but testified that he was on vacation the last week in July and the first week in August — a total of eight school days. There is no reason to doubt his recollection. Of greater significance to the fraud issue, he testified that he told some unidentified representative of the school that he was going away and this person said “we will take care of it in
The evidence relating to fraud in the preparation and submission of the vouchers for Joseph Steinberg is perhaps the strongest of all. He testified that after informing both Simon and Eizenman of vacation plans for July 1954 and 1955 he was told: “Go ahead. Don’t worry about it.” Again, there is the problem of the intended meaning of that advice. Objectively, there is nothing in these words to indicate an intent to falsify records. Subjectively, however, they may well permit the inference that Simon and Eizenman promised Steinberg that the school would not report him absent. This inference is supported by Stein-berg’s testimony that he got his $60 per month subsistence allowance for both periods of absence, that he knew the VA only allowed 30 days of leave before deducting $2 for each day of absence, and that he had had a substantial number of absences early in 1955 which probably used up his 30 days. But this inference does not meet the requirements of clear and convincing evidence. As with Stone, the defendant might have been able to prove its case had it conducted a more thorough examination of its witness. It should have examined Steinberg on the circumstances of his discussions with Simon and Eizenman and not stopped after having Steinberg testify that he was absent and that he was told not to worry. There is a hint of fraud in the record before us, but the facts are also consistent with an innocent interpretation. We adopt the Commissioner’s finding that Steinberg was absent for seven days in July of both 1954 and 1955; we do not find fraud.
(B) Second Counterclaim — “550” Students
Defendant’s second counterclaim alleges that Frank Simon, Benjamin Eizenman and their partnership, Eastern School, prepared false vouchers and submitted them to the VA on behalf of veterans entitled to benefits under P.L. 550.
We think there is clear and convincing evidence that plaintiff knowingly prepared false claims with respect to Jose
Jose Rosa-Garcia testified that he went to Puerto Rico on March 18, 1956 after his mother died, and stayed there until April 6. This is corroborated by a death certificate. When he returned, he discussed his absence with Simon. On direct examination Rosa-Garcia could not recall what Simon said to him. He recalled only that he was given an attendance card to sign in blank and directed to return to class. On cross-examination, he was quite firm in declaring that he never told Simon to mark him present nor did Simon promise that he would be marked present. In fact, the school only marked him absent for four days in March 1956, whereas the evidence is clear he was absent at least 12 days. If this were all, we would have to conclude as we did with respect to the first counterclaim, that although the evidence shows Rosa-Garcia was absent 12 days in March 1956, it does not show fraud. The balance is shifted by the testimony of the teachers, notably that of Pablo R. Rancier who was Rosa-Garcia’s instructor. Rancier, Meyer Glikin, and Ralph Paniague, all testified that they were told by Simon and Eizenman in staff meetings and in written memoranda to stop marking a student absent after two consecutive absences. Accompanying those instructions was an explanation that teachers should do this “to give [students] a break * * * because of sickness or something, that they have been absent, and the check [from the VA] would be short.”
later completed by someone in the office to show the student present. Glikin and Paniague said Simon or Eisenman told them on several occasions to mark some students present who had been absent beyond the 2-day period. Rancier recalled this was a continuous practice from 1952 to 1957.
Plaintiff does not deny it instructed teachers to leave the attendance record blank after two days of absence. It explains this as a procedure designed to put pressure on veterans to keep good attendance — i. e., the school administration was quickly put on notice of prolonged absences and able to deal with the problem. In addition, Simon and Eizenman both testified that they never instructed the teachers to report students present who were absent. Plaintiff attempted to discredit the contrary testimony of the teachers by eliciting testimony that the teachers were not happy with working conditions and moved to a competitor school. Where there is such a conflict, we think great weight should be given to the Trial Commissioner’s conclusions. He had the opportunity to observe the witnesses' demeanor and evaluate their credibility. In this instance, he concluded that the teachers were telling the truth. We adopt this conclusion.
Plaintiff asserts in its exceptions to the Commissioner’s findings that Rancier was Rosa-Garcia’s teacher and that Rosa-Garcia told Rancier on March 18, 1956, of his mother’s death and his intention to go to Puerto Rico that day for her funeral. From this, plaintiff infers that Rancier “out of sympathy for the student for the hardship which caused the absence, marked the student present when he was actually absent.” Plaintiff finds support for this inference in Paniague’s testimony that he occasionally marked students present who were absent without the office’s approval. This inference falls with the proof that Rosa-Garcia told Simon about the absence. Although there is no proof that Simon prepared
The evidence relating to Jose A. Huertos-Ramos is similar, although plaintiff comes close to establishing that the proof of the unreported absence is less than clear and convincing. We think defendant has met its burden, however. Huertos-Ramos testified that some time in February 1956 he went to Puerto Rico to visit his mother who was very ill. His recollection was that he was absent school about 15 days.
The fraud is proved by adding the fact that Rancier was Huertos-Ramos’ teacher. This is enough to tie together the fact of absence, Simon’s knowledge of
The evidence with respect to Gabino Ocasio-Santiago, Marcos Diaz, and Enrique Nieves-Maldonado proves absences of 17 days (July 1956), 29 days (14 in March, 15 in April 1956), and 15 days (4 in December 1956, 11 in January 1957), respectively, which considerably exceed the number reported. Like the evidence relating to the “346” students in the first counterclaim, however, the evidence proving these absences does not prove fraud. At most it proves that Simon or Eizenman knew of the absences and told the students not to worry. There is no tie-in with any of the teachers. Accordingly, we adopt the Commissioner’s findings that these students were absent, but omit his references to fraud.
(C) Third Counterclaim& Claim of Forfeiture
The third counterclaim is founded on 28 U.S.C. § 1503 (1964 Ed.) which gives this court jurisdiction to give judgments upon set-offs. The set-off is allegedly warranted by those provisions of the G.I. Bill which allow the recovery of over-payments to veterans. The defendant neither submitted evidence of damages nor requested findings of fact with respect to this counterclaim, so we do not discuss it.
Defendant does press here a new counterclaim based on 28 U.S.C. § 2514 (1964 Ed.) which provides for the forfeiture to the United States of a claim “by any person who corruptly practices or attempts to practice any fraud against the United States in the proof, statement, establishment, or allowance thereof.” Proof of this fraud would work a forfeiture of plaintiff’s entire claim. Plaintiff defends against this counterclaim on the ground that it was apprised of it for the first time when it received defendant’s answering brief in November 1966. It cites this court’s present rule 14(b) (9 (b) in the prior edition) which provides that “in all averments (1) of fraud (including a plea by the United States that the plaintiff has practiced or attempted to practice fraud within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2514) * * * the circumstances constituing fraud * * * shall be stated with particularity.” In reviewing the transcript, we observed that on February 9, 1963, the last day of the trial, government counsel moved to amend the government’s answer and counterclaim to conform to the proof. Section 2514 was the subject matter of the motion. So, plaintiff cannot claim complete surprise. It is correct, however, that defendant failed to follow the rule which sets out the prerequisite to maintaining a section 2514 counterclaim. We, therefore, reject this counterclaim without reaching the merits.
(D) Plaintiff’s Defenses
Plaintiff argues that a judgment for defendant under the False Claims Act exposes Simon and Eizenman to double jeopardy under the Fifth Amendment because they have already been tried and acquitted in a criminal action as to each item of alleged fraud. Allied to this is a second argument that the doctrines of res judicata or collateral estoppel should apply because of the prior acquittal. In considering these arguments, we assume plaintiff is correct that the criminal action involved the same facts.
Unless the False Claims Act can be considered criminal in nature, the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel can have no application. See Murray & Sorenson, Inc. v. United States, 207 F.2d 119, 122, 42 A.L.R.2d 628 (1st Cir. 1953). This follows from differences in the burden of proof. Acquittal in a criminal action means no more than that the prosecution was not able to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. It does not mean that the prosecution could not have obtained a conviction had it only to prove guilt by clear and convincing evidence or a preponderance. The Supreme Court cases show that the False Claims Act is not criminal in nature. Accordingly, we hold that the acquittal of Simon and Eizenman in the criminal proceeding can have no effect in this case.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we hold that plaintiff’s claim was timely filed, that the “fair and reasonable” rate of tuition for the Radio Technology course is $.5209 per student-hour which takes account of adjustments to the “Teaching Personnel” cost category including the allowance of supervisors’ salaries, and that plaintiff is liable for two forfeitures of $2,000 each under the False Claims Act.
Judgment shall be entered for plaintiff in the amount of the difference between the rate of $.521 per student-hour and the $.419 determined by the Board, times 1,042,900.3 hours,
. E. g., National Schools v. United States, 175 Ct.Cl. 578, 361 F.2d 250 (1966) ; Chicago School of Automotive Trades, Inc. v. United States, 167 Ct.Cl. 106 (1964) ; West Coast University v. United States, 162 Ct.Cl. 310 (1963) ; Honolulu Trade School, Ltd. v. United States, 154 Ct.Cl. 397 (1961) ; Central Technical Institute v. United States, 284 F.2d 377, 151 Ct. Cl. 693 (1960) ; Germain School of Photography, Inc. v. United States, 281 F.2d 452, 150 Ct.Cl. 841 (1960) ; B. & S. Len-ox Trade School, Inc. v. United States, 145 Ct.Cl. 723 (1959) ; Hemphill Schools, Inc. v. United States, 146 Ct.Cl. 559 (1959) ; Tennessee Mechanical Institute, Inc. v. United States, 145 Ct.Cl. 344 (1959) ; Empire Institute of Tailoring, Inc. v. United States, 161 F.Supp. 409, 142 Ct.Cl. 165 (1958) ; Honolulu Trade School, Ltd. v. United States, 142 Ct.Cl. 794 (1958) ; Massachusetts College of Pharmacy v. United States, 141 Ct.Cl. 775 (1958) ; Radio-Television Training Association, Inc. v. United States, 163 F.Supp. 637, 143 Ct.Cl. 416 (1958) ; Sawyer, d/b/a Northwest-Broadcasting School v. United States, 161 F.Supp. 610, 142 Ct.Cl. 169 (1958) ; Little, d/b/a Southern School of Insurance v. United States, 152 F.Supp. 84, 138 Ct.Cl. 773 (1957) ; Art Center School v. United States, 142 F.Supp. 916, 136 Ct.Cl. 218 (1956) ; Feener Technical Schools, Inc. v. United States, 141 F.Supp. 777, 136 Ct.Cl. 94 (1956); National School of Aeronautics, Inc. v. United States, 142 F. Supp. 933, 135 Ct.Cl. 343 (1956) ; Hemp-hill Schools, Inc. v. United States, 133 Ct. Cl. 462 (1955) ; McSweeny Trade School, Inc. v. United States, 127 F.Supp. 591, 131 Ct.Cl. 445 (1955).
. We refer here to the conduct of one of the Eastern School partners who participated in the trial both as an attorney and witness. Perhaps because of his personal involvement in the case (in which he is effectually accused of fraud) he was somewhat overzealous in his objections and cross-examinations of witnesses.
. The Trial Commissioner erroneously found that June 4, 1957 was the date of filing. On that day plaintiff filed its first amended petition in printed form. The second filing was required because the original petition was typewritten; rule 1(e) permits the filing of typewritten petitions on condition that 25 printed copies be filed within 20 days thereafter.
. The students for whom the higher tuition rate is claimed received benefits under the 1944 G.I. Bill which was Public Law 346, 58 Stat. 284 (1944). They are referred to as “346” students. Also involved in this case are so-called “550” students, although no claim is made on their behalf. They are Korean War veterans who received benefits under Public Law 550, 66 Stat. 663 (1952). Their testimony is relevant in connection with defendant’s second counterclaim.
. See n. 4, supra.
. Ibid.
. For purposes of negotiating a new tuition rate for the calendar year 1950, plaintiff gave the VA a cost statement for the period November 1, 1948 to October 31, 1949. Actually, this cost statement only covered the 9-month period of the Radio Technology course’s life, i. e., February 1 to October 31, 1949. The negotiations continued into November 1950, making it possible for plaintiff to submit a more recent cost statement for the period November 1, 1949 to October 31, 1950. The Hearing Examiner refused to consider this later cost statement. In reviewing the Examiner and fixing a new rate, the VEAB did consider the later cost statement as well as the earlier. Both statements are now before the court as parts of the administrative record.
. Since the issue has been raised, we think it is appropriate, to say something about the scope of judicial review in these cases. The Commissioner has ostensibly applied the familiar substantial evidence test here, thereby suggesting perhaps that he thought the VEAB decision was entitled to finality under Wunderlich Act standards. See 41 U.S.C. §§ 321-322 (1964 Ed.). His decision to conduct a de novo trial to build a new record was not inconsistent with administrative finality because review on a de novo record was accepted procedure in this court in its pre-Bianchi era. See United States v. Carlo Bianchi & Co., 373 U.S. 709, 83 S.Ct. 1409, 10 L.Ed.2d 652 (1963). Actually there are significant differences between the government contract administrative process and the VA’s administrative process, which may suggest a broader scope of review in the latter area.
The VEAB was first established in 1949 and was made a permanent fixture of the VA the following year. 63 Stat. 631, 653 (1949); 64 Stat. 336, 338 (1950). Both statutes gave contractors the right to Board review of the Administrator’s decisions and subjected Board proceedings to the provisions of sections 5 and 11 of the Administrative Procedure Act. It was also provided that Board decisions “shall constitute the final administrative determination.” The combination of section 10 of the Administrative Procedure Act, which limits the scope of judicial review of administrative decisions, and the “final administrative determination” language of the VA statutes,' might suggest that, VEAB decisions should be entitled to finality with judicial review limited to the now familiar standard. See United States v. Utah Construction & Mining Co., 384 U.S. 394, 86 S.Ct. 1545 (1966). First, regarding the application of the Ad
. We adopt the Commissioner’s findings regarding the three other veterans without comment; the parties have not excepted to them.
. After DeCuir was excused as a witness, defendant evidently talked with him and found out that he had duplicate airplane tickets and a stamped ticket envelope, which would corroborate his testimony. Defendant requested that DeCuir be allowed to testify again because of this “newly discovered evidence.” The Commissioner took the testimony on an offer of proof, but after the trial decided to allow the new testimony in evidence. We agree with his ruling, noting that this and a number of similar evidence problems could have been avoided had the government prepared more thoroughly. Many of the government witnesses indicated on cross-examination that they might have some records which could corroborate their testimony. Evidently the government never attempted to get this information, thereby making proof of its case more difficult.
. Under Public Law 550, 66 Stat. 663 (1952), it will be recalled that schools sent vouchers certifying veterans’ attendance to the VA, which then paid benefits directly to the veterans who, in turn, paid the schools the “fair and reasonable” tuition.
. Tr., p. 846.
. An FBI agent testified at the trial that he prepared a written statement on the basis of an interview he had in 1958 with Huertos-Ramos who refused to sign the statement because “he couldn’t remember the exact date” of his absence. The Commissioner ruled that the defendant did not have to produce the statement or show it to plaintiff because it was unsigned and not approved. Citing Campbell v. United States, 373 U.S. 487, 83 S.Ct. 1356, 10 L.Ed.2d 501 (1963), which was decided subsequent to the trial, plaintiff argues now that under the Jencks Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3500 (1964 Ed.), plaintiff was entitled to see the statement, that statements producible under the Jencks Act include not only “signed” statements, but also any statements “otherwise adopted or approved,” § 3500(e) (1), and that by reason of defendant’s failure to produce the statement in question, the testimony of Huertos-Ramos should be stricken.
We think the Commissioner made the correct ruling. It should be noted first that the Jencks Act applies only to criminal proceedings by its express terms. § 3500(a). This is neither a criminal nor a quasi-criminal proceeding as the discussion of double jeopardy in the text, infra, makes clear. Second, it should be emphasized that Huertos-Ramos did not sign the statement or otherwise approve the contents.
. The defendant might be entitled to its “costs of suit” under the False Claims Act. No allowance is made for this item, however, because the defendant has not offered any evidence concerning these costs, nor has it made any claim therefor.
. The parties agree the vouchers show that plaintiff provided a total of 1,043,019.3 compensable hours of instruction to “346” students enrolled in the Radio Technology course. (This is the only subject matter of the affirmative claim.) The government asserts in its first counterclaim, which relates to “346” students, that plaintiff over-reported attendance for 213.5 hours. We have adopted the Commissioner’s findings that the plaintiff over-reported 119.0 hours. Accordingly, we have reduced the number of compensable hours to 1,042,900.3.
Concurrence Opinion
Judge (concurring):
I concur in the result and in all of the court’s able opinion except the part relating to 28 U.S.C. § 2514. As to that, I reach the same destination by a different road. I agree that the counterclaim should be rejected.
As I read section 2514, it was intended to forfeit any claim if the claimant practiced fraud in the prosecution thereof, not only before the Congress or the Executive branch, but before this court also. Clearly, therefore, the failure to plead section 2514 at the outset would not bar its invocation if the fraud occurred after the pleadings had closed. Clearly too the falsity, though begun earlier, continues after the pleadings have closed if the claimant in testimony or othewise continues to assert what is actually not
We said in Pewee Coal Co. v. United States, 161 F.Supp. 952, 958, 142 Ct.Cl. 796, 806 (1958), cert, denied 359 U.S. 912, 79 S.Ct. 588, 3 L.Ed.2d 574 (1959):
The sanction of forfeiture under this statutory provision is harsh, and it can be invoked only when the Government assumes the burden of pleading and proving that a claimant has corruptly practiced or attempted to practice fraud. * * *
The Government there had disclaimed any reliance on section 2514 and we stated that the applicability of that section was not before us.
The fine record of the Department of Justice in our lifetimes may make it unthinkable to us that Government counsel would themselves connive in a fraud on the Government, but this is an old statute, R.S. 1086, and in the historic view it is all too thinkable that this could occur. Hence, again, the silence or belated activity of defendant’s counsel does not necessarily mean that we have no duty to perform in the premises. I cannot, therefore, justify my concurrence wholly on the lateness of the hour when the defendant here first invoked section 2514.
We held in Little v. United States, 152 F.Supp. 84, 138 Ct.Cl. 773 (1957) (another veteran’s training school case) that fraud relating to some items of a multiitem claim forfeits all of them under section 2514, but the falsity was widespread and general. Here a few days tuition of two students only, out of thousands, is all the false claim that remains after the conscientious screening of the commissioner, and of the court. To apply the Little ease would be to elevate logic over reason and experience.
Such drastic forfeitures are apparently provided for elsewhere in our law, e. g., 19 U.S.C. § 1592. I think the Congress intended to rely on the Executive branch and on the courts to apply all such provisions in a reasonable manner related to the apparent purpose of the legislation, not just to its literal language. Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 U.S. 457, 12 S.Ct. 511, 36 L.Ed. 226 (1892). To hold the entire claim forfeit on account of falsity in two items out of thousands would do more to discourage honest persons from doing business with the United States than it would to deter false claims. If reasonably construed, section 2514 is not harsh, though certainly drastic. I think the findings, as modified by the court, fail to disclose anything to justify a more sweeping ultimate finding that plaintiff has corruptly practiced fraud with respect to the proof of the claim generally, nence, I would restrict the forfeiture to the two items shown to be false.
Concurrence in Part
(concurring in part and dissenting in part):
I concur in all of the well-written and exhaustive majority opinion, except that portion which finds the plaintiff guilty of fraud with reference to the filing of claims of the two “550” students, Jose Rosa-Garcia and Jose A. Huertos-Ramos. In my opinion, the defendant failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that plaintiff knowingly prepared false claims for these students with the intent to defraud the government.
In the case of Jose Rosa-Garcia, the evidence shows that he was absent from school twelve days, but he was marked absent for only four days by “someone” (unknown) at the school. When he returned, he discussed his absence with Simon, but neither of them mentioned whether he would be marked present or absent. He signed an attendance card, in blank, and returned to class. The majority opinion states that these facts alone do not show fraud. The opinion then establishes fraud by the testimony of the three disgruntled school teachers who had left plaintiff’s employ and had gone to a competing school after diffi
The Jose A. Huertos-Ramos case is similar to the Jose Rosa-Garcia case, only weaker on the fraud question. He said he was absent fifteen days, but he was marked absent four days. On his return he talked to Simon or Eizenman about his absence. He testified he went to Puerto Rico often in the mid and late 1950’s because of the prolonged illness of his mother. There was considerable doubt that he could testify with certainty in 1963 that he went to Puerto Rico in February 1956. No one knows who prepared his attendance record. The majority opinion once again relies on the fact that Rancier was Huertos-Ramos’ teacher to establish fraud. It says that this ties together the absence, Simon’s knowledge thereof, and the school’s policy to report students present who were absent, and the cumulative effect of all of this is that proof of fraud as to this particular student is shown by clear and convincing evidence. In my opinion, it is neither clear nor convincing and is not the kind of evidence required to show fraud in this case. The teacher did not prepare the attendance record of this student, and neither did Simon or Eizenman. The teacher was not told to mark this student present when he was absent. All that we have is suspicion and inference on top of inference. This is not enough. There is no clear and convincing evidence that plaintiff knowingly prepared a false attendance record for this student or knowingly prepared a false certificate or claim to be presented to the government for or by this student with the intent to defraud.
Accordingly, I would hold that defendant has failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence a violation by plaintiff of the False Claims Act and is not entitled to recover anything from plaintiff on its second counterclaim.
