5. a. The commissioner, on behalf of the State and for the benefit of the fund, shall take such legal action as may be necessary or appropriate to pursue any claims against any responsible party, which may appear justified upon the record of any claims approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 3 of this act or which otherwise may appear justified. The Attorney General may sue in any federal or state court, in the name of this State, or enter into any appropriate arbitration proceeding under the laws of this or any other state, and may engage such private counsel and employ such technical experts as the Attorney General, after consultation with the commissioner, deems necessary for full and effective prosecution of any legal action to recover from responsible parties for any of the claims referred pursuant to this act as well as to recover against responsible parties for any other claims, whether or not referred by the commissioner, that the Attorney General may choose to prosecute arising out of what is commonly referred to as the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C. 56:8-1 et seq.), or upon any other applicable legal basis.

b. Any moneys recovered pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall, after deduction of the expenses of the Attorney General to the extent that such expenses have not already been reimbursed directly out of the fund in pursuit of any claim or claims by the Attorney General against the party from whom such recovery is obtained, be deposited in the fund, provided that any civil penalty or costs imposed under P.L.1960, c.39 (C. 56:8-1 et seq.), shall be deposited in accordance with that act.

c. Nothing in this act shall be expressly or impliedly construed or interpreted to abrogate or limit the authority of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute FRT plywood related claims, whether or not referred by the commissioner, under P.L.1960, c.39 (C. 56:8-1 et seq.) or any other statutory or legal basis available to the Attorney General.

L.1991,c.202,s.5.