MEMORANDUM

Plaintiff-Relator Globe Composite Solutions, LTD. brings an action under the False Claims Act against Defendants Solar Construction, Inc. and Richard C. Somer-ville alleging fraud in connection with certain contracts with the United States Government. Presently at issue is Plaintiff-Relator’s Motion to Dismiss of Globe Composite Solutions, LTD. [# 16], which seeks to dismiss, with prejudice, (1) Plaintiff-Relator’s claims against Defendants, and (2) the Government’s potential claims against Defendants. After considering the submissions of the Parties, Plaintiff-Relator’s Motion is ALLOWED as to Plaintiff-Relator’s claims ONLY.

Background

During a Status Conference held on October 31, 2007, the Government consented to dismissal of the case with prejudice as to the Plaintiff-Relator and without prejudice as to the United States. Subsequently, on November 7, 2007, the Government *2filed this consent in writing.1

The Plaintiff-Relator and Defendants, however, seek the dismissal of the claims of the United States with prejudice.2 Plaintiff-Relator and Defendants assert that a dismissal with prejudice is necessary to effectuate the settlement in the related case pending before another judge of this Court.3 The Government, however, states that such a dismissal is not permitted without the consent of the Attorney General.4 Plaintiff-Relator and Defendants disagree, and argue that the court has the authority to dismiss the action with prejudice as to the claims of the United States.5 Discussion

Section 3730(b)(1) of the False Claims Act expressly requires the Government’s consent for dismissing a qui tarn action brought by a private person: “The action may be dismissed only if the court and the Attorney General give written consent to the dismissal and their reasons for consenting.”6

The statute is clear on its face. The court and the Government must give their written consent, or the action may not be dismissed. In addition, the statute does not limit the consent requirement to any particular period of time, e.g., the sixty-day seal period.7

Plaintiff-Relator and Defendants, however, cite a Ninth Circuit case in support of their position. In Killingsworth, the Ninth Circuit held that the consent provision in § 3730(b)(1) is limited to the sixty-day seal period and any extensions of the seal period.8 The court based its conclusion on reading Section 3730(b) “as a whole.”9

The Fifth and Sixth Circuits, however, reject the reasoning in Killingsworth,10 *3and adopt a literal reading of Section 3730(b)(1). In Searcy, the Fifth Circuit stated, “The government asks us to sanction an absolute veto power over voluntary settlements in qui tam False Claims Act suits. The statutory language appears to grant just that....”11 Additionally, “The statutory language relied on by the government is as unambiguous as one can expect .... [,]” and, “[u]nlike the Killings-worth court, we can find nothing in § 3730 to negate the plain import of this language.” 12 The court concluded,

For more than 130 years, Congress has instructed courts to let the government stand on the sidelines and veto a voluntary settlement. It would take a serious conflict within the structure of the False Claims Act or a profound gap in the reasonableness of the provision for us to be able to justify ignoring this language. We can find neither.13

In Health Possibilities, the Sixth Circuit held the same:

We now join the Fifth Circuit in rejecting the Ninth Circuit’s analysis, and hold that a relator may not seek voluntary dismissal of any qui tam action without the Attorney General’s consent. Section 3730(b)(1) unqualifiedly provides that a qui tam action “may be dismissed only if the court and Attorney General give written consent.” This language clearly does not limit the consent provision to the sixty-day intervention period. If Congress wanted to limit the consent requirement to the period before the United States makes its initial intervention decision, we presume that it knew the words to do so.... 14

After reviewing the statute, legislative history and policy considerations, the Sixth Circuit concluded, “In sum, we find nothing ... that suggests that we should ignore the undeniably clear and plain language of § 3730(b)(1).”15

This court concurs with the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, and takes the position that the statute clearly does not limit the consent requirement to the sixty-day seal period. Accordingly, the Government must consent to all dismissals in a qui tam action brought by a private person, even voluntary dismissals by the plaintiff-relator. Here, therefore, the court does not have the authority to dismiss the action with prejudice as to the claims of the United States because the Government has not consented to such a dismissal.

Additionally, for the following policy reasons,16 this court only consents to dismissal of this case without prejudice as to the United States. Even if this court, therefore, had the authority to dismiss the claims of the Government with prejudice, it would decline to do so. Preventing the Government from ever pursuing these claims, i.e., permitting the dismissal with prejudice, offends notions of sound public policy.17 A settlement between the private *4parties in a qui tam action should not prevent the Government from ever pursuing a case against an entity accused of defrauding the Government. First, the Government and the public are not represented during settlement negotiations, and a settlement between the private parties provides the Government and the public with limited relief, if any. Second, pursuing claims under the False Claims Act is an important way for the Government to investigate and prosecute fraud against the United States, and this should not be impeded by a private settlement agreement.

Conclusion

For the reasons mentioned above, the Electronic Order of October 16, 2007, ALLOWING WITHOUT OPPOSITION Plaintiff-Relator’s Motion to Dismiss of Globe Composite Solutions, LTD. [# 16] is MODIFIED as follows:

• With the consent of the United

States,18 Plaintiff-Relator’s Motion to Dismiss of Globe Composite Solutions, LTD [# 16] is ALLOWED as to Plaintiff-Relator’s claims ONLY. Accordingly, Plaintiff-Relator’s claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

• With the consent of the United

States,19 the claims of the United States are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

An Order has issued.20