United States v. Litalien

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
February 18, 2004
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 03-20570
Conference Calendar
United States of America, ex rel, CARL W. DAVIS,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
versus
FLORENT LUC LITALIEN; ET AL.,
Defendants,
FLORENT LUC LITALIEN,
Defendant-Appellant.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. H-00-CV-4540
USDC No. H-01-CV-3142
--------------------
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, EMILIO M. GARZA, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Carl Davis, Texas inmate No. 634171, filed a qui tam action
against Florent Luc Litalien, Texas inmate no. 753225, under the
False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq. Davis alleged
that Litalien had defrauded the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) by collecting benefits while incarcerated. The district

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No. 03-20570
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court granted summary judgment for Davis on the liability issue
based on the matters admitted pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 36(a).
The district court determined liability but did not award
damages. Because the district court did not determine damages,
it could not issue a final judgment pursuant to FED. R. CIV.
P. 54(b). Pemberton v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 996 F.2d
789, 792 (5th Cir. 1993). Accordingly, this court lacks
jurisdiction to consider the appeal.
APPEAL DISMISSED.

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