Adams & Associates, PLC

03/28/2026

It’s a great day for a Spring Festival at the neighborhood Pauite Center! Come down and see us!

03/04/2026

The Rise of the “Serial Whistleblower” in False Claims Act Cases

Over the past several years defending healthcare fraud matters, I have noticed an interesting shift in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation: the rise of the serial whistleblower.

Traditionally, qui tam cases were brought by insiders—employees who personally observed misconduct and reported it to the government. That is how the statute was originally designed to function.

Increasingly, however, many cases are being filed by entities that appear to rely on data mining and publicly available billing information rather than firsthand knowledge.

These “professional relators” analyze government data, identify statistical outliers in billing patterns, and file lawsuits alleging fraud against multiple providers across the country.

Some characteristics of these cases include:
• Relators with little or no direct connection to the provider
• Complaints based largely on statistical analysis of claims data
• Multiple lawsuits filed against providers in the same industry
• Allegations focused on billing patterns rather than specific patient encounters

While the False Claims Act allows claims based on information that is not necessarily firsthand, this trend raises interesting questions about the role of whistleblowers and the purpose of the statute.

The FCA was enacted during the Civil War to combat fraud against the government by empowering individuals with inside knowledge. Today, some relators operate more like data investigators than traditional whistleblowers.
In my next post, I will discuss how government data analytics and billing databases are fueling this new wave of FCA litigation.

Stay tuned for Part 2-How Data Analytics Is Driving Modern Healthcare Fraud Investigations.

02/18/2026

I love serving with these amazing people on the Partners for Pauite Board who do amazing things for our Scottsdale Community.

09/27/2025

I am honored to serve with these wonderful fellow Scottsdale Leadership Alumni on the Partners for Pauite Board.

09/16/2025

Sentencing Trends in White-Collar Cases: What Defense Lawyers Should Be Watching
One of the most challenging phases of a white-collar case comes after conviction or plea: sentencing. Recently, we’ve seen federal courts taking a harder look at two common issues:
🔹 Loss Calculations – Sentences in fraud cases are often driven by alleged “loss amounts.” But courts are increasingly scrutinizing whether those numbers reflect actual loss or just government estimates. In some cases, defense counsel have successfully argued for significant reductions when “intended loss” does not align with reality.
🔹 Sophisticated Means Enhancements – The Guidelines allow for harsher penalties if a case involved “sophisticated means.” But what does that really mean? Courts are becoming less willing to rubber-stamp this enhancement, especially in cases where the conduct was straightforward or where the government’s own processes contributed to confusion. See our most recent newsletter about how this enhancement is under fire.

https://lnkd.in/g8ndMHpM

For white-collar defendants—often professionals or business owners—the difference can mean years off a sentence.
As defense lawyers, our role is not just to litigate the facts of the case, but also to push back on overly broad guideline applications that don’t fit the reality of our client’s conduct.

The trend is clear: careful, detail-driven advocacy at sentencing matters now more than ever.

08/27/2025

Always great to see my classmates from Scottsdale Leadership!

08/13/2025

I am so proud of Chase Wortham, and my staff for all of their hard work with every case that we have. We are so grateful for our clients and nothing makes us happier than to help them.

06/21/2025

We're kicking off our annual water drive for the Partners for Paiute Neighborhood Center in Scottsdale! 🌊

During these hot summer months, our at-risk neighbors need our help more than ever. The Paiute Neighborhood Center is a vital part of our community, offering a safe space where everyone can come together for social and educational programs. But they can’t do it alone.

I’m asking you to consider donating, even a small amount can make a big difference! Let's come together and show our support.

Please like, comment, and share this post so we can spread the word and get as many people involved as possible. Thank you for your kindness and support!

https://gofund.me/f92328bf

04/11/2025

Ashley Adams was asked to weigh in by reporter Dennis Welsh from azfamily on Senators' claims that those close to the President might have engaged in Insider Trading following Trump's tweet, "Now is a good time to buy."

https://www.azfamily.com/video/2025/04/11/trumps-social-media-post-raises-insider-trading-concerns/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJmEW5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHoGTs8FC4D-W0bQlguxmjae_HbCB--k4ZJ-thkkWtYOTkTFyAH23KVlnvGrY_aem_E4n_yvUXomOiw7sNALmqqA

04/11/2025

Ashley was asked by ABC News to comment about Lori Daybell Vallow representing herself in her own murder trial.

Opening statements in Lori Daybell's first Arizona case are set to take place on Monday. The so-called "doomsday mom" has already been sentenced to life in prison in Idaho.

03/03/2025

Always great to collaborate with the top white collar women defense lawyers in the world.