SECTION 1.  Section 9 of Chapter 93A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking all the words in paragraph (2) after the phrase “similarly situated” in the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following:-

  “ bring such action as a class action in compliance with the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure, as most recently amended, regarding certification of class actions.” 

SECTION 2.  Said section 9 of Chapter 93A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following new paragraph:

        (5) Each person seeking to recover under this section shall be required to prove that his or her injury and damages were proximately caused by a method, act or practice declared to be unlawful by section two or any rule or regulation issued there under.  Proof of the existence of an unlawful method, act or practice shall not support an award of damages or other relief without proof that the person seeking recovery suffered an actual injury and that such injury was proximately caused by the unlawful method, act or practice.

SECTION 3.  This Act is intended to clarify existing Massachusetts law and thus shall take effect immediately upon passage and shall apply to all actions commenced or pending on or after the effective date of this section.