J. Scott Newton
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Years In Practice
J. Scott Newton, shareholder in the Firm's Jackson and Washington, D.C. offices, is the chair of the government services group where he leads the disaster financial oversight practice. Mr. Newton also concentrates his practice on government investigations and litigation focusing on health care fraud, white collar crime and internal corporate investigations. He has extensive jury and bench trial experience in cases including the prosecution of white collar crime, murder/manslaughter and a variety of others, as well as civil actions.
His practice is focused upon defending health care providers, including hospital systems, health maintenance organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, physician practices, nursing homes, among others, against False Claims Act (FCA) and its qui tam provisions, kickback, Stark and other allegations. He regularly responds to search warrants and subpoenas, grand jury investigations, including preparing witness testimony and/or production of records, leading litigation and negotiating resolution settlements, pleas, Corporate Integrity Agreements and other collateral consequences. He has experience serving as an expert witness in health care fraud litigation. Mr. Newton leads the Firm's disaster recovery practice, which has provided financial management oversight, grant administration and compliance, legal, regulatory and policy advice in $5.5 billion to federal programs related to Hurricane Katrina. The work has been recognized as a leading practice by the United States Government Accountability Office.
Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Newton served as an Assistant United States Attorney for Health Care Fraud Enforcement in Louisiana and Mississippi, where he prosecuted more than 200 complex health care fraud cases, resulting in the recovery of more than $25 million for the Medicare Trust Fund. He also prosecuted one of the largest narcotics traffickers in the country, obtaining the first life sentence in a drug case in the Southern District of Mississippi. He has experience in prosecuting public corruption cases and has tried white collar and drug cases. Mr. Newton is a two-time recipient of the prestigious "Integrity Award," a national award for prosecutorial excellence.
Mr. Newton also served as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he led one of the first corporate scandal investigations, a $520 million international tax evasion, securities and bank fraud case involving a public company and its nationally known accounting, investment banking and law firms. The Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, General Counsel, and three Managing Directors, who inflated stock prices and diverted millions offshore, were convicted.
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers in Government/Cities/Municipalities (2006, 2013)
- Baker Donelson Jackson Pro Bono Attorney of the Year (2007)
- Appointed to U.S. Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Working Group
- Assistant Commissioners Award for Distinguished Support of IRS-CID (1995)
- Commendations from FBI Director Louis J. Freeh (1995, 1996)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General's Integrity Awards (2000, 2002)
Jackson, Mississippi 39211