50 USC 4041 – Enforcement by the Attorney General
(a) Civil action
The Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate district court of the United States against any person who—
(1) engages in a pattern or practice of violating this chapter; or
(2) engages in a violation of this chapter that raises an issue of significant public importance.
(b) Relief
Terms Used In 50 USC 4041
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
In a civil action commenced under subsection (a), the court may—
(1) grant any appropriate equitable or declaratory relief with respect to the violation of this chapter;
(2) award all other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, to any person aggrieved by the violation; and
(3) may, to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty—
(A) in an amount not exceeding $55,000 for a first violation; and
(B) in an amount not exceeding $110,000 for any subsequent violation.
(c) Intervention
Upon timely application, a person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter with respect to which the civil action is commenced may intervene in such action, and may obtain such appropriate relief as the person could obtain in a civil action under section 4042 of this title with respect to that violation, along with costs and a reasonable attorney fee.