requested or demanded.
(2) "Documentary material" means:
(A) the original or a copy of a book, record, report,
memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, chart, or
other document;
(B) a data compilation stored in or accessible through
computer or other information retrieval systems, together
with instructions and all other materials necessary to use
or interpret the data compilations; and
(C) a product of discovery.
(3) "Investigation" means an inquiry conducted by an
investigator to ascertain whether a person is or has been
engaged in a violation of this chapter.
(4) "Knowing", "knowingly", or "known" means that a
person, regarding information:
(A) has actual knowledge of the information;
(B) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the
information; or
(C) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the
information;
and requires no proof of specific intent to defraud.
(5) "Material" means having a natural tendency to influence,
or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money
or property.
(6) "Obligation" means an established duty, whether or not
the duty is fixed, arising from:
(A) an express or implied contractual relationship;
(B) a grantor-grantee relationship;
(C) a licensor-licensee relationship;
(D) a fee-based or similar relationship;
(E) a statute;
(F) a rule or regulation; or
(G) the retention of an overpayment.
(7) "Person" includes a natural person, a corporation, a firm,
an association, an organization, a partnership, a limited
liability company, a business, or a trust.
(8) "Product of discovery" means the original or duplicate of:
(A) a deposition;
(B) an interrogatory;
(C) a document;
(D) a thing;
(E) a result of the inspection of land or other property; or
(F) an examination or admission;
that is obtained by any method of discovery in a judicial or an
administrative proceeding of an adversarial nature. The term
includes a digest, an analysis, a selection, a compilation, a
derivation, an index, or another method of accessing an item
listed in this subdivision.
(9) "State" means Indiana or any agency of state government.
The term does not include a political subdivision.
Sec. 2. (a) This section does not apply to a claim, record, or
statement concerning income tax (IC 6-3).
(b) A person who:
(1) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or
fraudulent claim for payment or approval;
(2) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a
false record or statement that is material to a false or
fraudulent claim;
(3) has possession, custody, or control of property or money
used, or to be used, by the state, and knowingly delivers, or
causes to be delivered, less than all of the money or property;
(4) is authorized to make or deliver a document certifying
receipt of property used, or to be used, by the state and, with
intent to defraud the state, authorizes issuance of a receipt
without knowing that the information on the receipt is true;
(5) knowingly buys or receives, as a pledge of an obligation or
debt, public property from an employee who is not lawfully
authorized to sell or pledge the property;
(6) knowingly:
(A) makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false
record or statement concerning an obligation to pay or
transmit money or property to the state; or
(B) conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or
decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or
property to the state;
(7) conspires with another person to perform an act described
in subdivisions (1) through (6); or
(8) causes or induces another person to perform an act
described in subdivisions (1) through (6);
is, except as provided in subsection (c), liable to the state for a civil
penalty of at least five thousand five hundred dollars ($5,500) and
not more than eleven thousand dollars ($11,000), as adjusted by the
federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (28 U.S.C.
2461 note, Public Law 101-410), and for up to three (3) times the
amount of damages sustained by the state. In addition, a person
who violates this section is liable to the state for the costs of a civil
action brought to recover a penalty or damages.
(c) If the factfinder determines that the person who violated this
section:
(1) furnished state officials with all information known to the
person about the violation not later than thirty (30) days after
the date on which the person obtained the information;
(2) fully cooperated with the investigation of the violation;
and
the attorney general's disqualification or election under subsection
(e) in a timely fashion, and in any event not later than:
(1) sixty (60) days after being served, if the attorney general
has been served by a person who has filed a civil action under
section 4 of this chapter; or
(2) one hundred eighty (180) days before the expiration of the
statute of limitations, if the attorney general has not been
served by a person who has filed a civil action under section
4 of this chapter.
(h) A civil action brought under section 4 of this chapter may be
filed in:
(1) a circuit or superior court in Marion County; or
(2) a circuit or superior court in the county in which a
defendant or plaintiff resides.
(i) The state is not required to file a bond under this chapter.
Sec. 4. (a) A person may bring a civil action for a violation of
section 2 of this chapter on behalf of the person and on behalf of
the state. The action:
(1) must be brought in the name of the state; and
(2) may be filed in a circuit or superior court in:
(A) the county in which the person resides;
(B) the county in which a defendant resides; or
(C) Marion County.
(b) Except as provided in section 5 of this chapter, an action
brought under this section may be dismissed only if:
(1) the attorney general or the inspector general, if applicable,
files a written motion to dismiss explaining why dismissal is
appropriate; and
(2) the court issues an order:
(A) granting the motion; and
(B) explaining the court's reasons for granting the motion.
(c) A person who brings an action under this section shall serve:
(1) a copy of the complaint; and
(2) a written disclosure that describes all relevant material
evidence and information the person possesses;
on both the attorney general and the inspector general. The person
shall file the complaint under seal, and the complaint shall remain
under seal for at least sixty (60) days. The complaint shall not be
served on the defendant until the court orders the complaint served
on the defendant following the intervention or the election not to
intervene of the attorney general or the inspector general. The
state may elect to intervene and proceed with the action not later
than sixty (60) days after it receives both the complaint and the
written disclosure.
(d) For good cause shown, the attorney general or the inspector
general may move the court to extend the time during which the
complaint must remain under seal. A motion for extension may be
supported by an affidavit or other evidence. The affidavit or other
evidence may be submitted in camera.
(e) Before the expiration of the time during which the complaint
is sealed, the attorney general or the inspector general may:
(1) intervene in the case and proceed with the action, in which
case the attorney general or the inspector general shall
conduct the action; or
(2) elect not to proceed with the action, in which case the
person who initially filed the complaint may proceed with the
action.
(f) The defendant in an action filed under this section is not
required to answer the complaint until twenty-one (21) days after
the complaint has been unsealed and served on the defendant.
(g) After a person has filed a complaint under this section, no
person other than the attorney general or the inspector general
may:
(1) intervene; or
(2) bring another action based on the same facts.
(h) If the person who initially filed the complaint:
(1) planned and initiated the violation of section 2 of this
chapter; or
(2) has been convicted of a crime related to the person's
violation of section 2 of this chapter;
upon motion of the attorney general or the inspector general, the
court shall dismiss the person as a plaintiff.
Sec. 5. (a) If the attorney general or the inspector general
intervenes in an action under section 4 of this chapter, the attorney
general or the inspector general is responsible for prosecuting the
action and is not bound by an act of the person who initially filed
the complaint. The attorney general or the inspector general may
do the following:
(1) File a complaint.
(2) Amend the complaint of a person who has brought an
action under section 4 of this chapter, to:
(A) clarify or add detail to the claims in which the state is
intervening; or
(B) add additional claims to which the state contends the
state is entitled to relief.
(3) Move for a change of venue to Marion County if the
attorney general or the inspector general files a motion for
change of venue not later than ten (10) days after the attorney
general or the inspector general intervenes.
For statute of limitation purposes, a pleading filed by the attorney
general or the inspector general relates back to the filing date of
the complaint of the person who originally brought the action, to
the extent that the claim of the state arises out of the conduct,
transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth,
in the original filed complaint. Except as provided in this section,
the person who initially filed the complaint may continue as a party
to the action.
(b) The attorney general or the inspector general may dismiss
the action after:
(1) notifying the person who initially filed the complaint; and
(2) the court has conducted a hearing at which the person who
initially filed the complaint was provided the opportunity to
be heard on the motion.
(c) The attorney general or the inspector general may settle the
action if a court determines, after a hearing, that the proposed
settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable in light of the
circumstances. Upon a showing of good cause, the court may:
(1) conduct the settlement hearing in camera; or
(2) lift all or part of the seal to facilitate the investigative
process or settlement.
The court may consider an objection to the settlement brought by
the person who initially filed the complaint, but is not bound by
this objection.
(d) Upon a showing by the attorney general, the inspector
general, or the defendant that unrestricted participation by the
person who initially filed the complaint:
(1) will interfere with or unduly delay the prosecution of the
case by the attorney general or the inspector general;
(2) will involve the presentation of repetitious or irrelevant
evidence, or evidence introduced for purposes of harassment;
or
(3) will cause the defendant to suffer undue burden or
unnecessary expense;
the court may impose reasonable limitations on the person's
participation, including a limit on the number of witnesses that the
person may call, a limit to the length of testimony that the person's
witness may present, a limit to the person's cross-examination of
a witness, or otherwise limit the participation by the person in the
litigation.
(e) If the attorney general or the inspector general elects not to
intervene in the action, the person who initially filed the complaint
has the right to prosecute the action. Upon request, the attorney
general or the inspector general shall be served with copies of all
documents filed in the action and may obtain a copy of depositions
and other transcripts at the state's expense.
(f) If the attorney general and the inspector general have elected
not to intervene in an action in accordance with section 4 of this
chapter, upon a showing of good cause, a court may permit either
the attorney general or the inspector general to intervene at a later
time. The attorney general may move to intervene at any time. If
the attorney general has not moved to intervene, the inspector
general may move to intervene by providing written notice to the
attorney general of the inspector general's intent to intervene. If
the attorney general does not move to intervene earlier than fifteen
(15) days after receipt of the notice of intent to intervene, the
inspector general may move to intervene. If the attorney general or
the inspector general intervenes under this subsection, the attorney
general or the inspector general is responsible for prosecuting the
action as if the attorney general or the inspector general had
intervened in accordance with section 4 of this chapter.
(g) If the attorney general or inspector general shows that a
specific discovery action by the person who initially filed the
complaint will interfere with the investigation or prosecution of a
civil or criminal matter arising out of the same facts, the court
may, following a hearing in camera, stay discovery for not more
than sixty (60) days. After the court has granted a sixty (60) day
stay, the court may extend the stay, following a hearing in camera,
if it determines that the state has pursued the civil or criminal
investigation with reasonable diligence and that a specific
discovery action by the person who initially filed the complaint will
interfere with the state's investigation or prosecution of the civil or
criminal matter.
(h) A court may dismiss an action brought under this chapter to
permit the attorney general or the inspector general to pursue its
claim through an alternative proceeding, including an
administrative proceeding or a proceeding brought in another
jurisdiction. The person who initially filed the complaint has the
same rights in the alternative proceedings as the person would
have had in the original proceedings. A finding of fact or
conclusion of law made in the alternative proceeding is binding on
all parties to an action under this section once the determination
made in the alternative proceeding is final under the rules,
regulations, statutes, or law governing the alternative proceeding,
or if the time for seeking an appeal or review of the determination
made in the alternative proceeding has elapsed.
Sec. 6. (a) The person who initially filed the complaint is entitled
to the following amounts if the state prevails in the action:
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), if the attorney
general or the inspector general intervened in the action, the
person is entitled to receive at least fifteen percent (15%) and
not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the proceeds of
the action or settlement, plus reasonable attorney's fees and
an amount to cover the expenses and costs of bringing the
action.
(2) If the attorney general or the inspector general intervened
in the action and the court finds that the evidence used to
prosecute the action consisted primarily of specific
information, other than information provided by the person
bringing the action, contained in:
(A) a transcript of a criminal, a civil, or an administrative
hearing;
(B) a legislative, an administrative, or another public
report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or
(C) a news media report;
the person is entitled to receive not more than ten percent
(10%) of the proceeds of the action or settlement, taking into
account the significance of the information and the role of the
person bringing the action in advancing the case to litigation,
plus reasonable attorney's fees and an amount to cover the
expenses and costs of bringing the action.
(3) If the attorney general or the inspector general did not
intervene in the action, the person is entitled to receive at least
twenty-five percent (25%) and not more than thirty percent
(30%) of the proceeds of the action or settlement, plus
reasonable attorney's fees and an amount to cover the
expenses and costs of bringing the action.
(4) If the person who initially filed the complaint:
(A) planned and initiated the violation of section 2 of this
chapter; or
(B) has been convicted of a crime related to the person's
violation of section 2 of this chapter;
the person is not entitled to an amount under this section.
After conducting a hearing at which the attorney general or the
inspector general and the person who initially filed the complaint
may be heard, the court shall determine the specific amount to be
awarded under this section to the person who initially filed the
complaint. The award of reasonable attorney's fees plus an amount
to cover the expenses and costs of bringing the action is an
additional cost assessed against the defendant and may not be paid
from the proceeds of the civil action.
(b) If:
(1) the attorney general or the inspector general did not
intervene in the action; and
(2) the defendant prevails;
the court may award the defendant reasonable attorney's fees plus
an amount to cover the expenses and costs of defending the action,
if the court finds that the action is frivolous, vexatious, or brought
primarily for purposes of harassment.
(c) The state is not liable for the expenses, costs, or attorney's
fees of a party to an action brought under this chapter.
Sec. 7. (a) This section does not apply to an action brought by:
(1) the attorney general;
(2) the inspector general;
(3) a prosecuting attorney; or
(4) a state employee in the employee's official capacity.
in subsection (a);
(2) two (2) times the amount of back pay;
(3) interest on the back pay; and
(4) compensation for any special damages sustained as a
result of the act described in subsection (a), including costs
and expenses of litigation and reasonable attorney's fees.
(c) An employee may bring an action for the relief provided in
this section in any court with jurisdiction.
(d) A civil action under this section may not be brought more
than three (3) years after the date the retaliation occurred.
Sec. 9. (a) A subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness at
a trial or hearing conducted under this chapter may be served at
any place in Indiana.
(b) A civil action under section 4 of this chapter is barred unless
it is commenced:
(1) not later than six (6) years after the date on which the
violation is committed; or
(2) not later than three (3) years after the date when facts
material to the cause of action are known or reasonably
should have been known by a state officer or employee who is
responsible for addressing the false claim. However, an action
is barred unless it is commenced not later than ten (10) years
after the date on which the violation is committed.
(c) In a civil action brought under this chapter, the state is
required to establish:
(1) the essential elements of the offense; and
(2) damages;
by a preponderance of the evidence.
(d) If a defendant has been convicted (including a plea of guilty
or nolo contendere) of a crime involving fraud or a false statement,
the defendant is estopped from denying the elements of the offense
in a civil action brought under section 4 of this chapter that
involves the same transaction as the criminal prosecution.
Sec. 10. (a) Whenever the attorney general, the inspector
general, or the designee of the attorney general or the inspector
general has reason to believe that a person may be in possession,
custody, or control of documentary material or information
relevant to an investigation under this chapter involving a false
claim, the attorney general, the inspector general, or the designee
of the attorney general or inspector general may, before
commencing a civil proceeding under this chapter, issue and serve
a civil investigative demand requiring the person to do one (1) or
more of the following:
(1) Produce the documentary material for inspection and
copying.
(2) Answer an interrogatory in writing concerning the
documentary material or information.
to a civil investigative demand served under this chapter shall be
made in accordance with Trial Rule 34.
(b) Each interrogatory in a civil investigative demand served
under this chapter shall be answered in accordance with Trial Rule
33.
(c) The examination of a person under a civil investigative
demand for oral testimony served under this chapter shall be
conducted in accordance with Trial Rule 30.
Sec. 15. (a) The official who issued the civil investigative demand
is the custodian of the documentary material, answers to
interrogatories, and transcripts of oral testimony received under
this chapter.
(b) An investigator who receives documentary material, answers
to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony under this
section shall transmit them to the official who issued the civil
investigative demand. The official shall take physical possession of
the material, answers, or transcripts and is responsible for the use
made of them and for the return of documentary material.
(c) The official who issued the civil investigative demand may
make copies of documentary material, answers to interrogatories,
or transcripts of oral testimony as required for official use by the
attorney general, the inspector general, or the state police. The
material, answers, or transcripts may be used in connection with
the taking of oral testimony under this chapter.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e), documentary material,
answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony, while
in the possession of the official who issued the civil investigative
demand, may not be made available for examination to any person
other than:
(1) the attorney general or designated personnel of the
attorney general's office;
(2) the inspector general or designated personnel of the
inspector general's office; or
(3) an officer of the state police who has been authorized by
the official who issued the civil investigative demand.
(e) The restricted availability of documentary material, answers
to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony does not apply:
(1) if the person who provided:
(A) the documentary material, answers to interrogatories,
or oral testimony; or
(B) a product of discovery that includes documentary
material, answers to interrogatories, or oral testimony;
consents to disclosure;
(2) to the general assembly or a committee or subcommittee
of the general assembly; or
(3) to a state agency that requires the information to carry out
its statutory responsibility.
investigative demand issued under this chapter is confidential.
Sec. 18. Proceedings under this chapter are governed by the
Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, unless the Indiana Rules of Trial
Procedure are inconsistent with this chapter.".
Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
(Reference is to ESB 559 as printed April 5, 2013.)