17-8-412. Retaliatory actions prohibited -- remedies. (1) A governmental entity, private entity, or person may not adopt or enforce a rule, regulation, or policy preventing an employee, agent, or contractor from disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency with regard to or from acting in furtherance of an investigation of a violation of 17-8-403 or an action brought pursuant to 17-8-405 or 17-8-406.

(2) A governmental entity, private entity, or person may not discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or deny promotion to or in any other manner discriminate against an employee, agent, or contractor in the terms and conditions of employment, agency, or contract because of the disclosure by the employee, agent, or contractor of information to a government or law enforcement agency pertaining to a violation of 17-8-403.

(3) An employee, contractor, or agent is entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee, contractor, or agent whole if the employee, contractor, or agent is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, or agent or associated others in furtherance of an action under this part or other efforts to stop one or more violations of this part.

(4) Relief under subsection (3) includes reinstatement with the same seniority status the employee, contractor, or agent 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. A civil action may be brought in the appropriate district court of the state for the relief provided in this subsection.

(5) A civil action under this section may not be brought more than 3 years after the date on which the retaliation occurred.