CHAPTER 359

An Act permitting the Attorney General to recover costs in certain consumer fraud actions and amending P.L. 1971, c. 247.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    Section 7 of P.L.1971, c.247 (C.56:8-19) is amended to read as follows:

C.56:8-19 Action, counterclaim by injured person; recovery of damages, costs.

    7.    Any person who suffers any ascertainable loss of moneys or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or employment by another person of any method, act, or practice declared unlawful under this act or the act hereby amended and supplemented may bring an action or assert a counterclaim therefor in any court of competent jurisdiction. In any action under this section the court shall, in addition to any other appropriate legal or equitable relief, award threefold the damages sustained by any person in interest. In all actions under this section, including those brought by the Attorney General, the court shall also award reasonable attorneys' fees, filing fees and reasonable costs of suit.

    2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

    Approved January 15, 1998.