Section 27-14-12 - Employee protection. - New Mexico Statutes

27-14-12. Employee protection.

Any employee who is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or otherwise discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment by the employer because of lawful acts done by the employee on behalf of the employee or others in disclosing information to the department or in furthering a false claims action pursuant to the Medicaid False Claims Act [27-14-1 NMSA 1978], including investigation for, initiation of, testimony for or assistance in an action filed or to be filed pursuant to that act, shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole.  Such relief shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that the employee would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees.  An employee may bring an action in the appropriate court of the state for the relief provided in this subsection.