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337.385 Employer's liability -- Unpaid wages and liquidated damages -- Punitive
damages for forced labor or services.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, any employer who pays any
employee less than wages and overtime compensation to which such employee is
entitled under or by virtue of KRS 337.020 to 337.285 shall be liable to such
employee affected for the full amount of such wages and overtime compensation,
less any amount actually paid to such employee by the employer, for an additional
equal amount as liquidated damages, and for costs and such reasonable attorney's
fees as may be allowed by the court.
If, in any action commenced to recover such unpaid wages or liquidated damages,
the employer shows to the satisfaction of the court that the act or omission giving
rise to such action was in good faith and that he or she had reasonable grounds for
believing that his or her act or omission was not a violation of KRS 337.020 to
337.285, the court may, in its sound discretion, award no liquidated damages, or
award any amount thereof not to exceed the amount specified in this section. Any
agreement between such employee and the employer to work for less than the
applicable wage rate shall be no defense to such action. Such action may be
maintained in any court of competent jurisdiction by any one (1) or more employees
for and in behalf of himself, herself, or themselves.
If the court finds that the employer has subjected the employee to forced labor or
services as defined in KRS 529.010, the court shall award the employee punitive
damages not less than three (3) times the full amount of the wages and overtime
compensation due, less any amount actually paid to such employee by the employer,
and for costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court,
including interest thereon.
At the written request of any employee paid less than the amount to which he or she
is entitled under the provisions of KRS 337.020 to 337.285, the commissioner may
take an assignment of such wage claim in trust for the assigning employee and may
bring any legal action necessary to collect such claim, and the employer shall be
required to pay the costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by
the court. The commissioner in case of suit shall have power to join various
claimants against the same employer in one (1) action.
Effective: June 25, 2013
History: Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 25, sec. 25, effective June 25, 2013. -- Amended
2010 Ky. Acts ch. 24, sec. 1735, effective July 15, 2010. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts
ch. 340, sec. 4, effective June 17, 1978. -- Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 391, sec. 9.
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