If the state or political subdivision so requests, and at its expense, the state or political subdivision shall be served with copies of all pleadings filed in the action and supplied with copies of all deposition transcripts. (10) When a person brings an action under this subdivision, no other person may bring a related action based on the facts underlying the pending action. Moneys in this fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be used by the Attorney General to support the ongoing investigation and prosecution of false claims in furtherance of this article. This whistleblower protection statute forbids any type of retaliatory action against those who file wage or hour violation complaints to the Labor Commissioner. For purposes of this subdivision, “controversy” means any one or more false claims submitted by the same person in violation of this article. The employee can pass the information on to a government or law enforcement agency or to someone in his workplace who has the authority to investigate or correct the violation. The California whistleblower law, called the California False Claims Act, is a statute based on the federal False Claims Act that allows whistleblowers to file “qui tam” lawsuits if they know of instances where the state, county, local government, public school or government agency is being defrauded. Home; About. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the court may assess not less than two times and not more than three times the amount of damages which the state or the political subdivision sustains because of the act of the person described in that subdivision, and no civil penalty, if the court finds all of the following: (1) The person committing the violation furnished officials of the state or of the political subdivision responsible for investigating false claims violations with all information known to that person about the violation within 30 days after the date on which the person first obtained the information. California has recovered more than $1 billion as a result of whistleblower cases, including some brought by Phillips & Cohen. (d) (1) No court shall have jurisdiction over an action brought under subdivision (c) against a Member of the State Senate or Assembly, a member of the state judiciary, an elected official in the executive branch of the state, or a member of the governing body of any political subdivision if the action is based on evidence or information known to the state or political subdivision when the action was brought. As an Assistant Attorney General in Juneau, she practiced before the Alaska Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court before opening a plaintiff's personal injury practice in San Francisco. Both provide important protections to employees who “blow the whistle” on … Although there was no wrongdoing and John never reported wrongdoing, he is protected. (4) “Material” means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money, property, or services. Reviewed by: Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA. Get a Free Case Review. He is also protected if he reveals it to any public body conducting an investigation. (6) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any extensions obtained under paragraph (5), the Attorney General shall do either of the following: (A) Notify the court that it intends to proceed with the action, in which case the action shall be conducted by the Attorney General and the seal shall be lifted.