Savannah-based U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine of Georgia’s Southern District is blunt: “This office will not tolerate anyone who seeks to stack the deck against American workers and products.” He’s referring to a settlement his office secured from a Virginia importer of Chinese mirrored furniture that became popular when Kim Kardashian selected it for her mansion bedroom.
The importer last week agreed to pay $10.5 million to settle the charge that it evaded federal anti-dumping duties. Settlement of the whistleblower suit against Bassett Mirror Inc. also represents a victory for Atlanta attorney Page Pate. Pate represents whistleblower Kelly Renee Wells, who filed the suit.
Under terms of the False Claims Act, Pate is quoted in the Fulton Daily Report saying that Wells is eligible for a percentage of the money recouped by the government in unpaid import duties.
Pate said federal prosecutors declined to pursue import duty claims against retailers Macy’s and the Neiman Marcus Group, which were also named as defendants in Wells’ whistleblower case. However, new President Trump-appointed DA Christine promises “to pursue those who believe that their own profit justifies evasion of federal anti-dumping duties.”
