(a) Independent of any criminal prosecution or the result thereof, any person suffering injury to his or her person or damage to his or her property as a result of having been compelled to confess or provide information regarding an offense by force or threat of imminent bodily harm may bring a civil action for damages, injunctive relief, or other appropriate relief. Upon a finding of liability, the court shall award actual damages, including damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, when appropriate, and any suitable equitable relief. A judgment in favor of the prevailing plaintiff shall include an award for reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
     (b) Independent of any criminal prosecution or the result thereof, any person suffering damages as a result of retaliatory action may bring a civil action for damages, injunctive relief, or other appropriate relief. A judgment in favor of the prevailing plaintiff shall include an award for reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 740 ILCS 24/5

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • 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
  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.36
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

     (c) For purposes of this Section, “retaliatory action” means: (1) tortious conduct directed against an individual, or (2) the reprimand, discharge, suspension, demotion, or denial of promotion or change in the terms and conditions of employment, that is taken in retaliation because he or she has opposed or reported that which he or she reasonably and in good faith believed to be the use of force or threat of imminent bodily harm to compel a confession or information regarding an offense, or because he or she has made a charge, filed a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing involving the use of force or threat of imminent bodily harm to compel a confession or information regarding an offense.