SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 1698

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: NOVEMBER 24, 1997

 

      The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1698.

      This bill amends current law to allow the State to recover reasonable costs of suit, including attorneys' and filing fees, for successful actions brought by the Attorney General under the consumer fraud law. While currently the court may award costs of suit to private litigants who successfully sue under this law, the State must absorb its court costs regardless of the outcome of a case. This bill would provide the State with the same opportunity for recovery of such costs as is afforded to private litigants.