The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 181 on cause of action concerning restraint of trade sponsored by Rep. Jeter and Rep. Steuerwald. The bill was authored by Sen. Koch and Sen. Brown andamends the statute concerning combinations restraining trade as follows:
- Attorney General may bring an action for appropriate injunctive or other equitable relief, including disgorgement of any gains derived from the violation or civil penalty on behalf of the state or a political subdivision in connection with a violation of the statute.
- Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the state as parens patriae on behalf of one or more natural persons residing in Indiana for one or more of these same remedies, in connection with a violation of the statute.
- In an action brought under these provisions, the Attorney General may recover costs and expenses of the suit, including reasonable attorney’s fees and expert fees.
- An action brought under these provisions after June 30, 2023, the Attorney General may recover a civil penalty of not more than $100,000 per violation from any natural person who violates the statute or $1,000,000 from any other person, other than a natural person, that violates the statute.
A representative from the Attorney General’s office testified on behalf of the bill. The bill passed 11-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/senate/181