Source: https://www.bafirm.com/practice-areas/qui-tam-litigation/federal-state-county-and-city-acts/maryland-false-claims-act-of-2010/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 02:41:31+00:00

Document:
(g) “Material” means having a natural tendency to influence or be capable of influencing the payment or receipt of money or other property.
(i) “Provider” has the meaning stated in § 2-501 of this title.
(m) “State health program” means the Medical Assistance Program, the Cigarette Restitution Fund Program, the Mental Hygiene Administration, the Developmental Disabilities Administration, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, the Family Health Administration, the Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration, or any other unit of the Department that pays a provider for a service rendered or claimed to have been rendered to a recipient.
Added by Acts 2010, c. 4, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010.
(d) The penalties provided in subsection (b) of this section are in addition to any criminal, civil, or administrative penalties provided under any other State or federal statute or regulation.
(a) If the State finds that a person has violated or is violating § 2-602(a) of this subtitle, the State may file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction within the State against the person.
(a)(1)(i) A person may file a civil action on behalf of the person and the State in a court of competent jurisdiction within the State against a person who has acted or is acting in violation of § 2-602(a) of this subtitle.
(3)(i) The person shall serve on the State a copy of the complaint and a written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information that the person possesses, in accordance with the provisions of Title 2 of the Maryland Rules for serving process on the State.
(4)(i) For good cause shown, the State may move the court for extensions of the time during which the complaint remains under seal under paragraph (3)(ii)1 of this subsection.
(2)(i) During an investigation by the State conducted either independently or in conjunction with a civil action filed under this subtitle, the Attorney General shall have the same rights of discovery as a civil litigant in the circuit court under Title 2, Chapter 400 of the Maryland Rules.
(3)(i) Notwithstanding the objections of the person initiating the action, the State may elect at any point to withdraw its intervention as a party to the action.
(c)(1) Instead of proceeding with a civil action filed under this subtitle, the State may pursue any alternative remedy available to the State, including any appropriate administrative proceeding to determine a civil money penalty.
(3)(i) A finding of fact or conclusion of law made in any alternative proceeding that has become final shall be conclusive on all parties to an action filed under this subtitle.
(d)(1) On a showing in camera by the State that certain actions of discovery by the person initiating the action would interfere with the State’ s investigation or prosecution of a criminal or civil matter arising out of the same facts, the court may stay the discovery for a period of not more than 60 days.
(b)(1) If a court finds that the action is initiated by a person who planned and initiated or otherwise deliberately participated in the violation on which the action was based, the court may, to the extent it considers appropriate, reduce the share of the proceeds of the action that the person otherwise would have received under this section.
(a) No court in this State shall have jurisdiction over an action filed under § 2-604 of this subtitle against any member of the Legislative Branch or the Judiciary of the State, any member of the Governor’s Executive Council, the Attorney General, the Comptroller, or the State Treasurer if the action is based on evidence or information known to the State when the action was filed.
(c) A person may not bring an action under § 2-604 of this subtitle that is based on allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil suit or an administrative civil money penalty proceeding in which the State is already a party.
(e) The State is not liable for expenses that a person incurs in bringing an action under § 2-604of this subtitle.
(f) A person who is or was employed by the State, a local government, or any other political subdivision of the State as an auditor, investigator, attorney, financial officer, or contracting officer may not bring an action under § 2-604 of this subtitle that is based on allegations or transactions that the person discovered or learned of while acting in the person’s capacity as an auditor, investigator, attorney, financial officer, or contracting officer for the State, local government, or other political subdivision of the State.
(b)(1) An employee, contractor, or grantee may file a civil action against a person other than a supervisor in State government, an appointing authority in State government, or the head of a principal unit in State government if the person takes a retaliatory action against the employee, contractor, or grantee in violation of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) This section does not apply to an employee as defined in § 1-501 of the Health Occupations Article or a State employee.
(d)(1) An employee as defined in § 1-501 of the Health Occupations Article who is subject to retaliatory action in violation of subsection (a) of this section may file a civil action under Title 1, Subtitle 5 of the Health Occupations Article.
(b) A civil action may be filed under this subtitle for activity that occurred prior to October 1, 2010, if the limitations period under subsection (a) of this section has not lapsed.
(d) 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 by a person, a State pleading relates back to the filing date of the complaint of the person who originally brought the action.
(e) In an action filed under this subtitle, all essential elements of the cause of action, including damages, shall be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of procedure or evidence in the Maryland Rules, a final judgment rendered in favor of the State in any criminal proceeding charging fraud or false statements, whether on a verdict after trial or on a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, shall stop the defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any action filed under this subtitle that involves the same act, transaction, or occurrence as in the criminal proceeding.
(a) Any remedy provided under this subtitle is in addition to any other appropriate legal or equitable relief provided under any other applicable State or federal statute or regulation.
(b)(1) The State shall make all reasonable efforts to coordinate any investigation of an alleged violation under this subtitle with any investigation conducted by the federal government involving the same violation.
(c) The Comptroller shall deposit any civil penalty or damages collected under this subtitle in the General Fund of the State.
(d) The Department or the Inspector General of the Department may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.

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