Section 5-11-5.7-6 - Entitlement for person who initially filed complaint; attorney's fees and costs; state not liable for expenses and costs(a) The person who initially filed the complaint is entitled to the following amounts if the state prevails in the action: (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), if the attorney general or the inspector general intervened in the action, the person is entitled to receive at least fifteen percent (15%) and not more than twenty-five percent (25%) 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.(2) If the attorney general or the inspector general intervened in the action and the court finds that the evidence used to prosecute the action consisted primarily of specific information, other than information provided by the person bringing the action, contained in: (A) a transcript of a criminal, a civil, or an administrative hearing;(B) a legislative, an administrative, or another public state report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or(C) a news media report; the person is entitled to receive not more than ten percent (10%) of the proceeds of the action or settlement, taking into account the significance of the information and the role of the person bringing the action in advancing the case to litigation, plus reasonable attorney's fees and an amount to cover the expenses and costs of bringing the action.
(3) If the attorney general or the inspector general did not intervene in the action, the person is entitled to receive at least twenty-five percent (25%) and not more than thirty percent (30%) 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.(4) If the person who initially filed the complaint:(A) planned and initiated the violation of section 2 of this chapter; or(B) has been convicted of a crime related to the person's violation of section 2 of this chapter; 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.
(b) If: (1) the attorney general or the inspector general did not intervene in the action; and(2) the defendant prevails; 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, vexatious, or brought primarily for purposes of harassment.
(c) The state is not liable for the expenses, costs, or attorney's fees of a party to an action brought under this chapter.Amended by P.L. 109-2014, SEC. 7, eff. 7/1/2014.Added by P.L. 197-2013, SEC. 1, eff. 7/1/2013.