§ 15.17.110. Private actions for damages or injunctive relief.

A.

A covered employee who is denied payment of the applicable living wage in violation of this chapter may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction for appropriate injunctive relief or damages or both against the person(s) who acted in violation of this chapter. No employee or person shall bring a civil action alleging a violation of this chapter unless the employee or person has first provided a written allegation of the violation of this chapter to the city and the covered employer no less than ninety days prior to filing said civil action. After at least ninety days have passed after the written allegation has been provided, the employee or person shall be free to proceed with a civil action. Any civil action under this section must be brought within one year of the last date of the violation. The last date of the violation shall be determined by the last paycheck received by the employee or person that did not contain the living wage, or by the last occurrence of retaliation prohibited by Section 15.17.070.

B.

As used in subsection, "damages" means restitution of the difference between amounts actually paid and the living wage that should have been paid including interest, an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs.

C.

Private actions and remedies under this section shall be in addition to any actions for violations which the city may take.

(C.O.07-24 § 1 (part))