Yale University to Pay $1.5 Million for Shortchanging Veterans Administration

by
September 22, 2023
·

NEW HAVEN, CT – Yale University and Dr. John Krystal have agreed to a settlement of $1,507,743.67 to resolve allegations that they failed to disclose patents and share royalties with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The settlement addresses conduct spanning from March 2006 to February 2023 involving patents related to intranasal ketamine for the treatment of depression and suicidal ideation.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the importance of full disclosure from universities and their faculty when inventions are funded by government resources. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri from the VA Office of Inspector General also expressed commitment to ensuring taxpayer-funded research benefits the public sector.

At the time the patents were filed, Dr. Krystal held part-time positions at both Yale University and the VA. The VA and Yale had an agreement to disclose any “Joint Inventions” to each other. This included inventions or discoveries that might be patentable and involved at least one employee from each institution.

Starting in March 2006, Dr. Krystal, along with four co-inventors, filed for patents acknowledging VA funding support. The patents were later assigned to Yale, which began receiving royalties in 2015. However, neither Dr. Krystal nor Yale shared these royalties with the VA or disclosed the patents until 2017.

The settlement concludes the allegations that Yale and Dr. Krystal failed to fulfill their disclosure and sharing obligations to the VA from March 2006 to December 2017. It also addresses claims that they were unjustly enriched by not sharing royalties after the patents were disclosed.

As part of the agreement, Dr. Krystal will not share in the settlement paid to the VA, despite rights he would have as a VA employee inventor. Additionally, Yale and the VA entered a separate agreement to share future royalties and assign the patents to the VA.

Phil Stilton
Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

  1. New Jersey Announces Investigation Into Years of JCP&L Outages and Failing to Meet Standards
  2. DHS Says Canadian Woman Who Hit Child on Boardwalk Facing Multiple Charges, Deportation
  3. Respected Toms River Doctor, Daughter, Grandchild Killed in New York Plane Crash
  4. Husband of Canadian Illegal Charged in Point Pleasant Assault Threatened NJ Politicians: We Know Where Your Kids Go to School