Bill S.1125

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 124 FILED ON: 1/10/2023

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1125

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1125) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to treble damages. The Judiciary.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1028 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

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 2020 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 said 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 and who prevails in such an action shall, if said violation be willful, be awarded triple damages, as liquidated damages, for any loss of wages and other benefits; and the employee shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, further, that any employee so aggrieved and who prevails in such an action if said violation is not willful, shall be awarded damages as determined by the court for any loss of wages and other benefits; and the employee 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: -

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 said 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 and who prevails in such an action shall, if said violation be willful, be awarded triple damages, as liquidated damages, for any loss of wages and other benefits; and the employee shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, further, that any employee so aggrieved and who prevails in such an action, if said violation is not willful, shall be awarded damages as determined by the court for any loss of 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 said 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 and who prevails in such an action shall, if said violation be willful, be awarded triple damages, as liquidated damages, for any loss of wages and other benefits; and the employee shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, further, that any employee so aggrieved and who prevails in such an action, if said violation is not willful, shall be awarded damages as determined by the court for any loss of wages and other benefits; and the employee 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 heareby 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 said 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 and who prevails in such an action shall, if said violation be willful, be awarded triple damages, as liquidated damages, for any loss of wages and other benefits; and the employee shall also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees; provided, further, that any employee so aggrieved and who prevails in such an action, if said violation is not willful, shall be awarded damages as determined by the court for any loss of wages and other benefits; and the employee may also be awarded the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees

Name:	District/Address:
Bruce E. Tarr	First Essex and Middlesex