Staples Settles False Claims Act Case for $7.4 Million
Staples Contract and Commercial, a division of office products company Staples, Inc., has paid the United States $7.4 million to settle allegations that it submitted false claims when it sold office supply products manufactured in countries not permitted by the Trade Agreements Act to U.S. government agencies. The settlement resolves allegations that Staples sold products from countries that do not have reciprocal trade agreements with the U.S., such as China and Taiwan. Staples was required by its contract with the General Services Administration (GSA) to prevent such items from being offered for sale to U.S. government agencies.