News
10.9.23
Roger Lewis Weighs in on Seventh Circuit’s Recent FCA Ruling Regarding ‘Objectively Reasonable’ Interpretations and the Supreme Court’s Consideration of the Government’s FCA Dismissal Power
Overview
Roger Lewis is a principal in Goldberg Kohn's Litigation Group. He focuses his practice on False Claims Act litigation, representing whistleblowers of all kinds in investigating, evaluating and filing claims against persons or entities that defraud the United States government, state government, or other public and private entities. Since Roger joined Goldberg Kohn's False Claims Act practice, the firm's cases have returned more than half a billion dollars to state and federal treasuries.
Roger also litigates complex commercial litigation in the state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. He has handled cases in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, California, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Missouri and Kansas. In addition to general commercial contract and tort matters, his cases have involved lending and financial institution litigation, consumer and property tax litigation, and partnership and shareholder issues. His property tax litigation experience includes one of the biggest valuation trials in the history of the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, representing the owner of the state's largest nuclear generation facility.
Roger aggressively pursues litigation objectives within the framework of the client's broader goals, counseling clients thoughtfully and rigorously through their most complex, high-stakes matters.
Professional Background
Roger received his law degree, cum laude, from Harvard University in 1995 and his B.A., with honors, in political science and psychology from Stanford University in 1992.
He is General Counsel of Goldberg Kohn and Chair of the Professional Responsibility Committee. He also proudly serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee, which oversees and coordinates pro bono activities across the firm. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk to the late Hon. James B. Moran of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Outside the firm, Roger is member of the Board of Directors of Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, which is a community-driven advocacy organization using mixed-methods research approaches to interrupt cycles of poverty, mass incarceration, and racial injustice inherent to the legal system.
Experience
- Defending a national bank against UCC and tort claims arising from a $50 million – plus fraud perpetrated on the bank’s municipal account holder by its fiduciary.
- Prosecuting and successfully resolving complex intercreditor claims on behalf of a national bank against co-lenders in a multi-tranche, commercial real estate loan facility.
- Representing the owner of nuclear power plants in property tax hearings in the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and in several collar counties near Chicago.
- Securing emergency injunctions against deposed board member after lender client exercised its stock pledge and proxy rights in defaulted borrowers, ultimately resulting in payment in full to the client. As lenders increasingly use all of the tools in their toolbox to exercise their rights in collateral, Mr. Lewis’ practice is on the cutting edge of validating and securing those rights in court.
- Defending numerous consumer class actions, including class actions asserting violations arising out of banking activities, to successful resolutions, including outright dismissal, summary judgment, and nominal, individual settlements.
- Prosecuting commercial foreclosure matters, including suits against guarantors, to judgment and sale.
- Defending a large commercial lending client against multi-million dollar lender liability claims, and achieving a substantial judgment against the guarantor plaintiff.
- Achieving judgment in various contested intercreditor disputes involving substantial borrower assets.
- Protecting successful trial court ruling in bank vs. bank litigation involving check fraud through argument and decision from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Credentials
Education
- Harvard University, JD, 1995
– cum laude
- Stanford University, B.A., 1992
Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Professional Activities
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association