[JURIST] Database giant Oracle [official website] has agreed to pay $8 million to settle a dispute over claims that the company fraudulently billed the US government for software training from 1997 through 2003. Former Oracle employee Robert J. Makheja, who claimed he was fired after challenging the company's billing practices, will receive $1.58 million in the settlement. The lawsuit had been sealed by US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan [official profile] until the announced settlement because it was a whistleblower complaint. The terms of the settlement state that Oracle denies any wrongdoing and that its conduct was appropriate under the terms of the contract. Read the US Attorney's press release on the settlement from Friday. AP has more.