Norwich, Conn., solo Timothy C. Spayne has paid the federal government $1.24 million to settle allegations that he billed Groton, Conn.-based Electric Boat for up to 94 hours in a single day for representing EB employees in workers' compensation cases. U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor called it one of the most egregious instances of government fraud during his more than two years in office.
The 39-year-old attorney was indicted on civil charges under the federal False Claims Act nearly two years ago. Federal prosecutors say that, between January 1999 and June 2001, Spayne was paid nearly $3.3 million by the U.S. Navy through its contracts with EB, much of it due to allegedly gross overbilling. Under the settlement agreement announced Jan. 31, Spayne did not admit liability. . . .
[A]ccording to the civil claims against him, on Feb. 17, 2000, Spayne billed Electric Boat for 94.75 hours in a 24-hour period. "On that one day he supposedly reviewed 113 files, made and received 91 phone calls and wrote 72 letters," according to the government's March 15, 2004, complaint against Spayne.