Section 44-9-6 – Rights of the qui tam plaintiff and the state or political subdivision.
A. If the state or political subdivision proceeds with the action, it shall have the primary responsibility of prosecuting the action and shall not be bound by an act of the qui tam plaintiff. The qui tam plaintiff shall have the right to continue as a party to the action, subject to the limitations of […]
Section 44-9-7 – Awards to qui tam plaintiff and the state or political subdivision.
A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the state or a political subdivision proceeds with an action brought by a qui tam plaintiff and the state or political subdivision prevails in the action, the qui tam plaintiff shall receive: (1) at least fifteen percent but not more than twenty-five percent of the proceeds […]
Section 44-9-8 – Award of attorney fees and costs to defendant.
If the state or political subdivision does not proceed with the action and the qui tam plaintiff conducts the action, the court may award a defendant reasonable attorney fees and costs if the defendant prevails and the court finds the action clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious or brought primarily for the purpose of harassment. History: Laws […]
Section 44-9-9 – Certain actions barred.
A. No court shall have jurisdiction over an action brought pursuant to Section 44-9-5 NMSA 1978 by a present or former employee of the state or political subdivision unless the employee, during employment with the state or political subdivision and in good faith, exhausted existing internal procedures for reporting false claims and the state or […]
Section 44-9-10 – State or political subdivision not liable.
The state or political subdivision shall not be liable for expenses or fees that a qui tam plaintiff may incur in investigating or bringing an action pursuant to the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act. History: Laws 2007, ch. 40, § 10; 2015, ch. 128, § 9. ANNOTATIONS The 2015 amendment, effective June 19, 2015, provided that […]
Section 44-9-11 – Employer interference with employee disclosure; private action for retaliation.
A. An employer shall not make, adopt or enforce a rule, regulation or policy preventing an employee from disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency or from acting in furtherance of a fraud against taxpayers action, including investigating, initiating, testifying or assisting in an action filed or to be filed pursuant to the […]
Section 44-9-12 – Limitation of actions; estoppel; standard of proof.
A. A civil action pursuant to the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act may be brought at any time. A civil action pursuant to the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act may be brought for conduct that occurred prior to the effective date of that act, but not for conduct that occurred prior to July 1, 1987. B. Notwithstanding […]
Section 44-9-13 – Joint and several liability.
Liability shall be joint and several for any act committed by two or more persons in violation of the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act [44-9-1 NMSA 1978]. History: Laws 2007, ch. 40, § 13. ANNOTATIONS Effective dates. — Laws 2007, ch. 40, § 16 makes the act effective July 1, 2007. Severability. — Laws 2007, ch. […]
Section 44-9-14 – Remedy not exclusive.
The remedies provided for in the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act [44-9-1 NMSA 1978] are not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies provided for in any other law or available under common law. History: Laws 2007, ch. 40, § 14. ANNOTATIONS Effective dates. — Laws 2007, ch. 40, § 16 makes the […]
Section 44-9-5 – Civil action by qui tam plaintiff; state or political subdivision may intervene.
A. A person may bring a civil action for a violation of Section 44-9-3 NMSA 1978 on behalf of the person and the state or political subdivision. The action shall be brought in the name of the state or political subdivision. The person bringing the action shall be referred to as the qui tam plaintiff. […]