U.S. ex rel. Harman v. Trinity Industries
A federal jury on Oct. 20 ordered the manufacturer of a guardrail system found on most U.S. highways to pay the government $175 million for withholding critical information about design changes to an approved safety feature. But the real cost to Dallas-based Trinity Industries Inc. may approach $1 billion—among the highest verdict ever recorded in a private whistleblower lawsuit in Texas—after the mandatory trebling of the verdict, statutory claims, prejudgment interest and attorney fees.
The case was filed in March 2012 by Joshua Harman, a guardrail installer and co-owner of a struggling guardrail systems manufacturer. The case went to trial in July, but U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap declared a mistrial during the proceeding, saying that he had “serious concerns” about a company witness’s truthfulness.
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