Source: https://www.hbsslaw.com/hagens-berman-international-whistleblower-center/fcaqui-tam-state-statutes/minnesota-false-claims-act
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:38:29+00:00

Document:
Subdivision 1. Scope. For purposes of this chapter, the terms in this section have the meanings given them.
(2) is made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient if the money or property is to be spent or used on behalf of the state or the political subdivision or to advance a state or political subdivision’s program or interest, and if the state or political subdivision provides or has provided a portion of the money or property that is requested or demanded, or if the state or the political subdivision has reimbursed or will reimburse the contractor, grantee, or other recipient for a portion of the money or property that is requested or demanded.
Claim does not include requests or demands for money or property that the state or a political subdivision has paid to an individual as compensation for state or political subdivision employment, or as an income subsidy with no restrictions on that individual’s use of the money or property.
“Obligation” means an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee relationship from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any overpayment.
(2) has knowledge that is independent of and materially adds to the publicly disclosed allegations or transactions, and has voluntarily provided the information to the state or a political subdivision before filing an action under this chapter.
(7) knowingly makes or uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or a political subdivision, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the state or a political subdivision.
§ 15C.04 RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
Subd. 2. Attorney general investigatory powers. In connection with an investigation under this section, the attorney general has the powers listed in section 8.31, subdivisions 2 and 3.
§ 15C.05 PRIVATE REMEDIES; COMPLAINT UNDER SEAL; COPY OF COMPLAINT AND WRITTEN DISCLOSURE OF EVIDENCE TO BE SENT TO PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may maintain an action under this chapter on the person’s own account and that of the state; the person’s own account and that of a political subdivision; or on the person’s own account and that of both the state and a political subdivision. After an action is commenced, it may be voluntarily dismissed only if the court and the prosecuting attorney give written consent to the dismissal and their reasons for consenting.
(2) if the action is based upon allegations or transactions that are the subject of a civil action or an administrative proceeding for a monetary penalty to which the state or a political subdivision is already a party.
(3) by the news media.
This paragraph does not apply if the action or claim is brought by the prosecuting attorney or the person bringing the action or claim is an original source of the information.
§ 15C.06 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY INTERVENTION; MOTION TO EXTEND TIME; UNSEALING OF COMPLAINT.
§ 15C.07 SERVICE OF UNSEALED COMPLAINT AND RESPONSE BY DEFENDANT.
§ 15C.08 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AND PRIVATE PARTY ROLES.
(b) If the prosecuting attorney elects not to intervene at the outset of the action, the court, without limiting the status and rights of the person initiating the action, may nevertheless permit the prosecuting attorney to intervene at a later date, upon a showing of good cause. If the prosecuting attorney so intervenes, the prosecuting attorney subsequently has primary responsibility for conducting the action.
(d) If the prosecuting attorney elects to intervene, either at the outset or subsequently, the prosecuting attorney may file the prosecuting attorney’s own complaint or amend the complaint of the person who initially brought the action to clarify or add details to the claims in which the prosecuting attorney is intervening and to add any additional claims with respect to which the prosecuting attorney contends the prosecuting attorney is entitled to relief. For statute of limitations purposes, any prosecuting attorney pleading 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 prosecuting attorney arises out of the conduct, transactions, or occurrences set forth, or attempted to be set forth, in the prior complaint of that person.
(e) Whether or not the prosecuting attorney intervenes in the action, the prosecuting attorney may move to dismiss the action for good cause. The person who brought the action must be notified of the filing of the motion and may oppose it and present evidence at the hearing. The prosecuting attorney may also settle the action. If the prosecuting attorney intends to settle the action, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the person who brought the action. The state or the political subdivision may settle the action with the defendant notwithstanding the objections of the person initiating the action if the court determines, after a hearing, that the proposed settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable under all the circumstances. Upon a showing of good cause, the hearing may be held in chambers.
§ 15C.09 STAY OF DISCOVERY; EXTENSION.
§ 15C.10 COURT-IMPOSED LIMITATION UPON PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE PLAINTIFF IN ACTION.
§ 15C.11 LIMITATION OF ACTIONS; REMEDIES.
§ 15C.12 AWARD OF EXPENSES AND ATTORNEY FEES.
If the prosecuting attorney or a person who brought an action under section 15C.05 prevails in or settles an action under this chapter, the court shall award the prosecuting attorney or person reasonable costs, reasonable attorney fees, and the reasonable fees of expert consultants and expert witnesses. These expenses must be awarded against the defendant and are not allowed against the state or a political subdivision. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action and the person bringing the action conducts the action and the defendant prevails in the action, the court shall award to the defendant reasonable expenses and attorney fees against the person bringing the action if it finds that the action was clearly frivolous or vexatious or brought in substantial part for harassment. The state or a political subdivision is not liable for expenses, attorney fees, or other costs incurred by a person in bringing or defending an action under this chapter.
§ 15C.13 DISTRIBUTION TO PRIVATE PLAINTIFF IN CERTAIN ACTIONS.
If the prosecuting attorney intervenes at the outset in an action brought by a person under section 15C.05, the person is entitled to receive not less than 15 percent or more than 25 percent of any recovery of the civil penalty and damages or settlement, depending on the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the conduct of the action. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action at any time, the person is entitled to receive not less than 25 percent or more than 30 percent of any recovery of the civil penalty and damages, or settlement, as the court determines is reasonable. If the prosecuting attorney does not intervene in the action at the outset but subsequently intervenes, the person is entitled to receive not less than 15 percent or more than 30 percent of any recovery of the civil penalty and damages or settlement, as the court determines, depending on the extent to which the person substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action. For recoveries whose distribution is governed by federal code or rule, the basis for calculating the portion of the recovery the person is entitled to receive shall not include amounts reserved for distribution to the federal government or designated in their use by federal code or rule.
(a) An employee, contractor, or agent is entitled to all relief necessary to make that employee, contractor, or agent whole if that employee, contractor, or agent is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent, or associated others in furtherance of an action under this chapter or other efforts to stop one or more violations of this chapter.
(b) Relief under paragraph (a) shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that the employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees.
(c)A civil action under this section may not be brought more than three years after the date when the retaliation occurred.

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