(1) In addition to temporary or permanent injunctive relief as provided in § 56-16-100(3)(c), any person who is injured in his business or property by reason of anything forbidden in this chapter may sue therefor in the court of common pleas and recover double the actual damages by him sustained, and the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.

(2) When the action is one of common or general interest to many persons or when the parties are numerous and it is impracticable to bring them all before the court, one or more may sue for the benefit of the whole, including actions for injunctive relief.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 56-16-200

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: means a natural person, corporation, partnership, trust, or other entity, and, in case of an entity, it includes any other entity in which it has a majority interest or effectively controls as well as the individual officers, directors, and other persons in active control of the activities of each such entity. See South Carolina Code 56-16-10

(3) In an action for money damages, if the jury finds that the defendant acted maliciously, the jury may award punitive damages not to exceed three times the actual damages.

(4) A final judgment, order, or decree rendered against a person in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding under the United States antitrust laws, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, or under this chapter constitutes prima facie evidence against the person subject to the conditions of the United States Antitrust Law (15 U.S.C. § 16).

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