Third Circuit Addresses Tension Between Rules 8(a) and 9(b), Concluding That False Claims Act Plaintiffs Were Required to Meet Twombly/Iqbal Standard When Alleging Knowledge

The Third Circuit has made it clear that the Twombly/Iqbal pleading standard — which requires plaintiffs to plead enough facts to state a claim “that is plausible on its face” — applies to allegations of states of mind, such as knowledge and intent, notwithstanding Rule 9(b)’s allowance that such matters “may be alleged generally.”