Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2537 – Whistleblower protection and cause of action
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2537
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
A. No police employee shall be discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or discriminated against in any manner in the terms and conditions of his employment because of any lawful act engaged in by the employee or on behalf of the employee in furtherance of any action taken to report malfeasance in office by police employees to law enforcement, whether such fellow employee is a co-worker, supervisor, or subordinate.
B.(1) A police employee may bring an action for relief against his employer, in a court of competent jurisdiction, for damages associated with any action taken by the employee which is in furtherance of reporting malfeasance in office.
(2) A person aggrieved of a violation of Subsection A of this Section shall be entitled to treble damages plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
C. A plaintiff shall not be entitled to recovery pursuant to this Section if the court finds that the plaintiff instituted or proceeded with an action that was frivolous, vexatious, or harassing.
Acts 2022, No. 634, §1.