Jody Goodman is counsel in the Washington, D.C. office and a member of the White Collar and Regulatory Enforcement Group and the Health Care Group. Her practice is focused on the defense of individuals and companies in criminal investigations, civil False Claims Act cases, and internal corporate compliance investigations.
Jody's extensive litigation experience ranges from white collar prosecutions involving commodities trading, bid-rigging, check kiting, money laundering and fraud charges, to civil insurance and commercial contract disputes. Jody is an expert in mental health law, handling civil commitment hearings and providing guidance to providers on privacy and compliance issues. Recent matters include:
· Internal investigations of corporations in connection with criminal investigations.
· Defense of companies and individuals in government investigations in healthcare, energy trading, and lobbying.
· Representation of a government contractor in a False Claims Act whistle-blower case involving construction of the United States embassy in Baghdad, Iraq; the litigation resulted in dismissal.
· Representation of the Enron Creditors Recovery Corp. in a lawsuit against financial institutions that allegedly contributed to the collapse of Enron Corporation in 2001; the litigation resulted in recoveries of over $1.6 billion for ECRC.
Prior to entering private practice, Jody worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami, Florida, and an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia. She successfully argued the appeal of the notorious "8th and H Street Crew" murder of Catherine Fuller. As a prosecutor, Jody handled appeals, numerous trials, mental health cases, and grand jury work. She received two Special Achievement awards from the U.S. Attorney General.
Jody spent four years in Germany, where she taught a seminar on "Courtroom Practice in the United States" at the Friedrich Wilhelm University in Bonn. She also served as a consultant to the law faculty at the Free University in Berlin, developing a course on women's issues in American law.
Jody has an active pro bono practice, serving as a guardian ad litem for children in custody disputes, representing a Holocaust survivor seeking reparations from Germany, and counseling non-profit organizations on healthcare issues.
Jody has handled numerous trials and appeals in local and federal courts.
Publications
· District of Columbia Practice Manual, Mental Health Proceedings, D.C. Bar, 16th ed. 2007, 17th ed. 2008, 18th ed. 2009. (January 1, 2009). Chapter Editor: Jody Goodman.
· "Employee Releases: A Tool Federal Contractors Can Use to Protect Themselves Against False Claims Act Liability," BNA's Federal Contracts Report, Vol. 85, No. 7(February 21, 2006). Co-Authors: J. Catherine Kunz and Jody Goodman.
Alerts & Newsletters
· "Can Employee Releases Bar False Claims Act Actions?," Government Contracts Bullet Points (March 15, 2006). Contacts: J. Catherine Kunz, Jody Goodman.
· "FTC/DOJ Report Pushes Competition for Health Care Industry Ills," Health Law 'In The News' (July 26, 2004). Contacts: Arthur N. Lerner, Wm. Randolph Smith, Jody Goodman, Barbara H. Ryland.
Speaking Engagements
· "Can An Employee Release Minimize False Claims Act Liability?," ABA 20th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime 2006 (March 2-3, 2006). Co-Authors: Brian C. Elmer, Jody Goodman and J. Catherine Kunz.