Lance Armstrong today announced that he has settled the long-running False Claims Act case brought against him by former cyclist Floyd Landis and the U. S. Postal Service. This ends all litigation against Armstrong related to his 2013 admission that during his career as a professional cyclist he had used performance enhancing substances.
"The Postal Service and Landis had sought $100 million in damages from Lance, but in light of several significant court rulings rejecting and limiting the plaintiffs’ damages theories, the case today settled for $5 million, plus an additional amount to pay attorneys’ fees to Landis’ lawyer," said Elliot Peters of Keker Van Nest & Peters, LLP, counsel for Lance Armstrong. "Lance is delighted to put this behind him."
"I am glad to resolve this case and move forward with my life," Armstrong stated. "I’m looking forward to devoting myself to the many great things in my life – my five kids, my wife, my podcast, several exciting writing and film projects, my work as a cancer survivor, and my passion for sports and competition. There is a lot to look forward to."
"I am particularly glad to have made peace with the Postal Service," Armstrong added. "While I believe that their lawsuit against me was without merit and unfair, I have since 2013 tried to take full responsibility for my mistakes, and make amends wherever possible. I rode my heart out for the Postal cycling team, and was always especially proud to wear the red, white and blue eagle on my chest when competing in the Tour de France. Those memories are very real and mean a lot to me."
Trial had been set to start on May 7, 2018 before the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper in United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Armstrong has been represented since 2011 by Elliot R. Peters, R. James Slaughter, Sharif Jacob and Elizabeth McCloskey of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.