Government Contracts Monitor

Billing for 45 Hours of Work in One Day May Require a Time Machine

December 6, 2013

We typically report on false claims related to overbilling by government contractors. But every once in a while, there’s a case that shows contractors are not the only culprits – lawyers can overcharge the government too.

In Clay County, Iowa, an attorney who contracted with the State Public Defenders Office to provide representation to indigent defendants allegedly overbilled the state $177,755 over a three and half year period. The attorney, Ney McDaniel, has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, first-degree theft and first-degree fraudulent practice. According to the arrest warrant on the case, $81,060 was paid to McDaniel for 80 days in which he claimed 24 hours or more in a single day, including one day in which he allegedly claimed to have worked 45 hours in one day on 38 different cases. Other allegedly false entries include 55 days in which he claimed at least 20 hours of work in a day, 152 days in which he claimed at least 15 hours of work in a day, and 113 days in which he claimed only a pedestrian 12 hours of work in a day. There was also a claim for $6,137 in mileage.

The criminal case is pending. We will provide an update to let you know how many days Mr. McDaniel may have to serve for his days of overbilling.

Brian Stolarz is the attorney responsible for the content of this article.