9998.8. (a) A person who violates this chapter or who causes or induces another to violate this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both. A person shall not be liable under this subdivision for any act or omission by a foreign labor contractor engaged by the person if the foreign labor contractor was registered with the Labor Commissioner pursuant to Section 9998.1.5 no later than the first day of engagement.
(b) A person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of no less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and no more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per violation, in addition to any other civil remedies available to the Labor Commissioner or an aggrieved person.
(c) The commissioner or a person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may do all of the following:
(1) Bring an action for injunctive relief against a person who violates this chapter and, upon prevailing, recover costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
(2) Bring an action for damages, against a person who violates this chapter to recover the greater of all of his or her actual damages or five hundred dollars ($500) per employee per violation for an initial violation, and one thousand dollars ($1,000) per employee for each subsequent violation, and, upon prevailing in an action brought pursuant to this section, recover costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
(3) Enforce the liability on the bonds required under Section 9998.1.5.
(d) A person shall not be jointly and severally liable for any act or omission by a foreign labor contractor engaged by the person if the foreign labor contractor was registered with the Labor Commissioner pursuant to Section 9998.1.5 no later than the first day of engagement.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or alter any other rights or remedies, including any causes of action, available under any other federal or state law.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 711, Sec. 8. (SB 477) Effective January 1, 2015.)