Source: https://www.hbsslaw.com/hagens-berman-international-whistleblower-center/fcaqui-tam-state-statutes/new-jersey-false-claims-act
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 14:48:34+00:00

Document:
§ 2A:32C-2 Definitions relative to false claims.
“Attorney General” means the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, or his designee.
“Claim” means a request or demand, under a contract or otherwise, for money, property, or services that is made to any employee, officer, or agent of the State, or to any contractor, grantee, or other recipient if the State provides any portion of the money, property, or services requested or demanded, or if the State will reimburse the contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the money, property, or services requested or demanded. The term does not include claims, records, or statements made in connection with State tax laws.
§ 2A:32C-3 Civil liability for false, fraudulent claim.
§ 2A:32C-4 Reduction of treble damages by court, conditions.
§ 2A:32C-5 Investigation of violation; prosecution of crime.
§ 2A:32C-6 Primary responsibility for prosecuting action; remedies, supplementary.
6. a. If the Attorney General proceeds with the action, the Attorney General shall have primary responsibility for prosecuting the action, and shall not be bound by any act of the person bringing the action. The person bringing the action has the right to continue as a party to the action, subject to limitations specified in this act. The person bringing the action has an ongoing duty to disclose information related to the action to the Attorney General.
f. If the Attorney General decides not to proceed with the action, the seal shall be lifted and the person who initiated the action shall have the right to conduct the action. The decision of the Attorney General on whether to proceed with an action shall be deemed final and shall not be subject to review by any court or agency. If the Attorney General so requests, the Attorney General shall be served at the expense of the Attorney General with copies of all pleadings and motions filed in the action and copies of all deposition transcripts. When a person proceeds with the action, the court, without limiting the rights of the person initiating the action, may permit the Attorney General to intervene and take over the action on behalf of the State at a later date upon a showing of good cause.
h. The application of one civil remedy under this act shall not preclude the application of any other remedy, civil, administrative or criminal, under this act or any other provision of law. Civil and administrative remedies under this act are supplemental, not mutually exclusive. If after the filing of a complaint under section 5 of this act, the Attorney General decides to pursue an alternate administrative recovery action under subsection (e) of section 17 of P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-17), the plaintiff shall have the same rights in the administrative recovery action as the plaintiff would have had if the action had continued in Superior Court. Any finding of fact or conclusion of law made in the proceeding under subsection (e) of section 17 of P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-17) that has become final shall be conclusive on all parties to an action initiated under section 5 of this act. As used in this subsection, the term "final" means that the finding of fact or conclusion of law has been finally determined on appeal to the appropriate court, all time for filing such an appeal with respect to the finding or conclusion has expired, or the finding or conclusion is not subject to judicial review.
§ 2A:32C-7 Distribution of proceeds.
7. a. If the Attorney General proceeds with and prevails in an action brought by a person under this act, except as provided in subsection b., the court shall order the distribution to the person of at least 15% but not more than 25% of the proceeds recovered under any judgment obtained by the Attorney General under this act or of the proceeds of any settlement of the claim, depending upon the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action.
c. The Attorney General shall receive a fixed 10% of the proceeds in any action or settlement of the claim that it brings, which shall be deposited in the "False Claims Prosecution Fund" established in section 13 of this act and shall only be used to support its ongoing investigation and prosecution of false claims pursuant to the provisions of this act.
d. If the Attorney General does not proceed with an action under this section, the person bringing the action or settling the claim shall receive an amount which the court decides is reasonable for collecting the civil penalty and damages. The amount shall be not less than 25% and not more than 30% of the proceeds of the action or settlement of a claim under this act.
§ 2A:32C-8 Awarding of attorney’s fees, expenses and costs.
8. a. If the Attorney General initiates an action under this act or assumes control of an action brought by a person under this act, the Attorney General shall be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees, expenses, and costs. All such expenses, fees, and costs shall be awarded against the defendant.
§ 2A:32C-9 Immunity from civil liability; limitations on bringing an action.
d. No action may be brought under this act by a present or former employee or agent of the State or any political subdivision thereof when the action is based upon information discovered in any civil, criminal or administrative investigation or audit which investigation or audit was within the scope of the employee’s or agent’s duties or job description.
§ 2A:32C-10 Disclosure of information by employee, employee protections.
10. a. No employer shall make, adopt, or enforce any rule, regulation, or policy preventing an employee from disclosing information to a State or law enforcement agency or from acting to further a false claims action, including investigating, initiating, testifying, or assisting in an action filed or to be filed under this act.
c. An employer who violates subsection b. of this section shall be liable for all relief necessary to make the employee whole, including reinstatement with the same seniority status such employee would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, compensation for any special damage sustained as a result of the discrimination, and, where appropriate, punitive damages. In addition, the defendant shall be required to pay litigation costs and reasonable attorney’s fees associated with an action brought under this section. An employee may bring an action in the Superior Court for the relief provided in this subsection.
§ 2A:32C-11 Statute of limitations for bringing civil action.
§ 2A:32C-12 Evidence required for action, preponderance.
12. In any action brought under this act, the State or the person bringing the action shall be required to prove all essential elements of the cause of action, including damages, by a preponderance of the evidence.
13. a. There is established in the General Fund the “False Claims Prosecution Fund” as a nonlapsing revolving fund in the Department of the Treasury. Monies deposited in the fund shall be utilized by the Attorney General for the exclusive purpose of investigating and prosecuting false claims. The State Treasurer shall deposit 10% of the proceeds recovered by the Attorney General pursuant to subsection c. of section 7 of P.L.2007, c.265 (C.2A:32C-7) in the False Claims Prosecution Fund.
b. The State Treasurer shall deposit 25% of the State share of monies recovered from actions related to false or fraudulent Medicaid claims brought pursuant to this act in the "Medicaid Fraud Control Fund" established by section 10 of P.L.2007, c.58 (C.30:4D-62).
§ 2A:32C-14 Issuance of subpoenas, warrant for arrest; other power of Attorney General.
14. a. If the Attorney General has reason to believe that a person has engaged in, or is engaging in, an act or practice which violates this act, or any other relevant statute or regulation, the Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee may administer oaths and affirmations, and request or compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents. The Attorney General may issue, or designate another to issue, subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, accounts, papers and documents. Witnesses shall be entitled to receive the same fees and mileage as persons summoned to testify in the courts of the State.
If a person subpoenaed pursuant to this section shall neglect or refuse to obey the command of the subpoena, a judge of the Superior Court may, on proof by affidavit of service of the subpoena, of payment or tender of the fees required and of refusal or neglect by the person to obey the command of the subpoena, issue a warrant for the arrest of said person to bring that person before the judge, who is authorized to proceed against the person as for a contempt of court.
§ 2A:32C-15 Sovereign immunity preserved.
15. This act shall not be construed as waiving the sovereign immunity of the State and its officers and employees as otherwise provided by law.
§ 2A:32C-16 Existing law, certain, unaffected.
17. This act shall not abrogate or modify any existing statutory or common law privileges or immunities.
§ 2A:32C-17 Liberal construction, severability.
18. This act shall be liberally construed to effectuate its remedial and deterrent purposes. If any provision of this act or its application to any particular person or circumstance is held invalid, that provision or its application is severable and does not affect the validity of other provisions or applications of this act.
§ 2A:32C-18 Report to Legislature.

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