The U.S. Department of Justice joined Norman Rille and Neal Roberts’ civil qui tam lawsuit alleging violations of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act of 1986 by HP and other technology companies. The companies are accused of participating in an industry-wide practice of using partnership and alliance programs to make improper payments and cause the submission of false claims in connection with government IT contracts. The Department of Justice alleges an industry-wide scheme where companies provided millions of dollars in improper payments, known as “alliance benefits,” to each other, causing the federal government to make payments to the companies which they were not entitled to receive under the contracts. In August 2010, HP settled with the Department of Justice for $55 million.