§ 34:11B-11 — Suits, complaints, permitted; punitive damages

Any person may initiate suit in Superior Court or file a complaint with the division on either an individual or class basis. In addition to the remedies provided in section 16 of P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-17), the aggrieved party may be awarded punitive damages in an amount not greater than $10,000.00 except that in the case of a class action or a director's complaint the total amount of punitive damages shall not exceed $500,000.00 or 1% of the net worth of the defendant, whichever is less. In determining the amount of punitive damages, the court or director shall consider, among other relevant factors, the amount of compensatory damages awarded, the amount of civil penalty to be paid by the employer, the frequency and persistence of the violation of this act by the employer, the resources of the employer, the number of persons adversely affected by the violation, and the extent to which the employer's failure to comply with this act was intentional. L.1989, c.261, s.11.