Judge says he likely won’t dismiss all defendants in lawsuit against Armstrong, others

WASHINGTON – A federal judge says he probably won’t dismiss all of the defendants from a False Claims Act lawsuit against cyclist Lance Armstrong and others.

Judge Robert Wilkins made the comment at the end of a nearly three-hour hearing Monday on the Justice Department’s lawsuit, which also named former Armstrong team director Johan Bruyneel and team management company Tailwind Sports as defendants.

The Justice Department this year joined a whistle-blower lawsuit filed by former Armstrong teammate Floyd Landis. But the government has not joined the portion of Landis’ lawsuit against financier Thomas Weisel, who was principal owner of Tailwind Sports. Monday’s hearing was on motions by the defendants to dismiss the case.

The government claims the Postal Service was tainted by its sponsorship of Armstrong’s team while he used performance-enhancing drugs.