HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2937        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1522

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Shaunna L. O'Connell

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to treble damages.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Shaunna L. O'Connell

3rd Bristol

1/16/2015

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

2/4/2015

Kevin J. Kuros

8th Worcester

2/2/2015

Marc T. Lombardo

22nd Middlesex

1/31/2015

Leonard Mirra

2nd Essex

1/29/2015

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

2/2/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2937        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1522

By Mrs. O’Connell of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1522) of Shaunna L. O’Connell and others relative to the awarding of treble damages for lost wages in certain civil actions.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to treble damages.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 27 of chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any employee claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this section may, at the expiration of 90 days after the filing of a complaint with the attorney general, or sooner if the attorney general assents in writing, and within 3 years after the violation, institute and prosecute in his own name and on his own behalf, or for himself and for others similarly situated, a civil action for injunctive relief, for any damages incurred, and for any lost wages and other benefits. Any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is willful, be awarded treble damages, as liquidated damages, for any lost wages and other benefits and shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, however, that any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is not willful, be awarded damages as determined by the court for any lost wages and other benefits and may also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees.

SECTION 2. Section 27F of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any employee claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this section may, at the expiration of 90 days after the filing of a complaint with the attorney general, or sooner if the attorney general assents in writing, and within 3 years after the violation, institute and prosecute in his own name and on his own behalf, or for himself and for others similarly situated, a civil action for injunctive relief, for any damages incurred, and for any loss of wages and other benefits. Any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is willful, be awarded treble damages, as liquidated damages, for any lost wages and other benefits and shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, however, that any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is not willful, be awarded damages as determined by the court for any lost wages and other benefits and may also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees.

SECTION 3. Section 27G of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any employee claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this section may, at the expiration of 90 days after the filing of a complaint with the attorney general, or sooner if the attorney general assents in writing, and within 3 years after the violation, institute and prosecute in his own name and on his own behalf, or for himself and for others similarly situated, a civil action for injunctive relief, for any damages incurred, and for any lost wages and other benefits. Any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall if the violation is willful, be awarded treble damages, as liquidated damages, for any lost wages and other benefits and shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, however, that any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is not willful, be awarded damages as determined by the court for any lost wages and other benefits and the employee may also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees.

SECTION 4. Section 27H of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any employee claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this section may, at the expiration of 90 days after the filing of a complaint with the attorney general, or sooner if the attorney general assents in writing, and within 3 years after the violation, institute and prosecute in his own name and on his own behalf, or for himself and for others similarly situated, a civil action for injunctive relief, for any damages incurred, and for any lost wages and other benefits. Any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is willful, be awarded treble damages, as liquidated damages, for any lost wages and other benefits and shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, however, that any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is not willful, be awarded damages as determined by the court for any lost wages and other benefits and may also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees.

SECTION 5. Section 150 of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any employee claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of sections 33E, 148, 148A, 148B, 150C, 152, 152A or 159C or section 19 of chapter 151 may, at the expiration of 90 days after the filing of a complaint with the attorney general, or sooner if the attorney general assents in writing, and within 3 years after the violation, institute and prosecute in his own name and on his own behalf, or for himself and for others similarly situated, a civil action for injunctive relief, for any damages incurred, and for any lost wages and other benefits. Any employee so aggrieved and who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is willful, be awarded treble damages, as liquidated damages, for any lost wages and other benefits and shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, however, that any employee so aggrieved who prevails in such an action shall, if the violation is not willful, be awarded damages as determined by the court for any lost wages and other benefits and may also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees.