The Indiana False Claims Act, created in 2005, is modeled after the federal False Claims Act. The Indiana False Claims Act was amended in 2007 to track updates made to the federal False Claims Act. Like the federal False Claims Act, the Indiana False Claims Act provides for awards to successful whistleblowers.
The U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Indiana and the Northern District of Indiana investigate and potentially prosecute all federal whistleblower claims filed in their districts. The Attorney General of Indiana investigates claims filed under the Indiana False Claims Act.
As former government attorneys themselves, the attorneys at the Whistleblower Law Collaborative have established strong working relationships with government attorneys nationwide. If you know of fraud against the state of Indiana, or any other state, contact us for a free and confidential assessment of your potential claims.
Current text of the Indiana False Claims Act
The following definitions apply throughout this chapter:
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.
IC 5-11-5.5-1
Ind. Code § 5-11-5.5-1
is, except as provided in subsection (c), liable to the state for a civil penalty of at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) 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.
the person is liable for a penalty of not less than two (2) times the amount of damages that the state sustained because of the violation. A person who violates this section is also liable to the state for the costs of a civil action brought to recover a penalty or damages.
IC 5-11-5.5-2
have concurrent jurisdiction to investigate a violation of section 2 of this chapter.
the attorney general shall certify the attorney general’s disqualification or election to the inspector general.
IC 5-11-5.5-3
Ind. Code § 5-11-5.5-3
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 one hundred twenty (120) 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 one hundred twenty (120) days after it receives both the complaint and the written disclosure.
upon motion of the attorney general or the inspector general, the court shall dismiss the person as a plaintiff.
IC 5-11-5.5-4
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.
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 amount and type of evidence that the person may introduce, a limit to the length of testimony that the person’s witness may present, and a limit to the person’s cross-examination of a witness.
IC 5-11-5.5-5
the person is entitled to receive not more than ten percent (10%) 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.
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.
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.
IC 5-11-5.5-6
unless the person bringing the action has direct and independent knowledge of the information that is the basis of the action, and the person bringing the action has voluntarily provided this information to the state.
IC 5-11-5.5-7
is entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole.
IC 5-11-5.5-8
by a preponderance of the evidence.
IC 5-11-5.5-9
IC 5-11-5.5-10
IC 5-11-5.5-11
to the extent that the application of these standards to a civil investigative demand is consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
IC 5-11-5.5-12
IC 5-11-5.5-13
IC 5-11-5.5-14
consents to disclosure;
Documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony requested by a state agency may be disclosed only under a court order finding that the state agency has a substantial need for the use of the information in carrying out its statutory responsibility.
The official who issued the civil investigative demand is not required to return documentary material that is in the custody of a grand jury, a court, or an agency.
IC 5-11-5.5-15
IC 5-11-5.5-16
Documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony provided in response to a civil investigative demand issued under this chapter are confidential.
IC 5-11-5.5-17
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.
IC 5-11-5.5-18