Establishes a right of action for citizens to enforce the public's interest in honest services from government officials.
The Honest Services Fraud Improvement Act allows citizens to bring a civil action against government officials who defraud the public of honest services. Qualified plaintiffs can recover compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney's fees. The complaint must be filed in camera, remain sealed for 60 days, and the government has 60 days to decide whether to pursue a criminal prosecution. If no criminal action is filed, the plaintiff must disclose evidence and can proceed with the civil action. The government can request an extension for the complaint to remain sealed.
Included in complete analysis
- Overview
- Core Provisions
- Implementation
- Impact
- Legal Framework
- Critical Issues
See what it does, who it affects, and the critical issues in plain language. Free, 30 seconds.