(a) The following persons may bring an action against a person who violates or is in violation of Section 10:
- (1) A person who (A) is engaged in the business of providing Internet access service to the public, owns a Web page, or owns a trademark, and
- (B) is adversely affected by a violation of Section 10. An action brought under this paragraph may seek to recover the greater of actual damages or $500,000.
- (2) An individual who is adversely affected by a violation of Section 10 may bring an action, but only against a person who has directly violated Section 10. An action brought under this paragraph may seek to enjoin further violations of Section 10 and to recover the greater of 3 times the amount of actual damages or $5,000 per violation.
- (b) The Attorney General or a State's Attorney may bring an action against a person who violates or is in violation of Section 10 to enjoin further violations of Section 10 and to recover a civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation.
(c) In an action pursuant to this Section, a court may, in addition, do either or both of the following:
- (1) Increase the recoverable damages to an amount up to 3 times the damages otherwise recoverable under subsection (a) in cases in which the defendant has engaged in a pattern and practice of violating Section 10.
- (2) Award costs of suit and reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff.
- (d) The remedies provided in this Section do not preclude the seeking of remedies, including criminal remedies, under any other applicable provision of law.
- (e) For purposes of paragraph (1) of subsection (a), multiple violations of Section 10 resulting from any single action or conduct shall constitute one violation.
(Source: P.A. 95-350, eff. 1-1-08.)