WHISTLEBLOWERS' ACT; DAMAGES FOR EMPLOYEE
House Bill 4559
Sponsor: Rep. Raymond Basham
Committee: Employment Relations, Training and Safety
Complete to 4-20-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4559 AS INTRODUCED 4-17-01
House Bill 4559 would amend the Whistleblowers' Protection Act to permit employees who reported a violation of state, local, or federal law to receive a portion of the damages recovered in civil actions, and also to permit employees to undertake a civil action and recover damages.
The bill specifies that if an employee reported to a public body a violation or a suspected violation of a law, or a regulation or rule promulgated under the law, and that body started a civil action to recover damages it had incurred as a result of the violation, then the employee who made the report would receive between 15 percent and 25 percent of the damages recovered, as determined by the court. The bill also specifies that if an employee reported a violation and the public body did not begin a civil action to recover damages within 180 days after the report, then the employee who reported the violation could begin a civil action on behalf of that public body. If the employee prevailed, then he or she would receive between 15 percent and 25 percent of the damages recovered, as determined by the court, together with all actual costs and attorney fees.
MCL 15.361 to 15.369
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.