D.C. Circuit Says Whistleblower Suit Against UScellular Can Continue

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2025 – Federal judges revived on Friday a fraud suit against UScellular can continue, reversing a lower court ruling that had sided with the company.

Mark O’Connor and Sara Leibman, a former FCC attorney, had sued UScellular under the False Claims Act, which mandates financial penalties for fraudulently seeking government funds.

They argued smaller companies that obtained bidding discounts in two Federal Communications Commission spectrum auctions were essentially puppets of UScellular, allowing the company to buy spectrum at a lower price than it could have by bidding itself.