2A:84A-21.11. Civil cause of action for damages due to violations

a. A person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship or other entity aggrieved by a search for or seizure of materials in violation of this act shall have a civil cause of action for damages for such search or seizure:

(1) Against the State of New Jersey, or against any other governmental unit, all of which shall be liable for violations of this act by their officers, employees or agents while acting within the scope or under color of their office, employment or agency.

(2) Against an officer, employee or agent of the State of New Jersey or any other governmental unit who has violated this act while acting other than within the scope or under color of his office, employment or agency. It shall be a complete defense to a civil action brought under this paragraph that the officer, employee or agent had a reasonable good faith belief in the lawfulness of his conduct unless his error is due to an ignorance of an official statement of the law.

b. The State of New Jersey or any other governmental unit, liable for violations of this act under paragraph 3 a. (1), may not assert as a defense to a claim arising under this act the immunity of the officer, employee or agent whose violation is complained of or his reasonable good faith belief in the lawfulness of his conduct, except that such a defense may be asserted if the violation complained of is that of a judge.

c. The remedy provided by paragraph 3 a. (1) against the State of New Jersey or any other governmental unit is exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding for conduct constituting a violation of this act, against the officer, employee or agent whose violation gave rise to the claim, or against the estate of such officer, employee or agent.

d. A person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship or other entity having a cause of action under this section shall be entitled to recover actual damages but not less than liquidated damages of $1,000.00, such punitive damages as may be warranted, and such reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation costs reasonably incurred as the court, in its discretion, may award; provided, however, that the State of New Jersey or any other governmental unit shall not be liable for interest prior to judgment.

e. The Attorney General is authorized to settle a claim for damages brought against the State of New Jersey under this section and shall promulgate regulations to provide for the commencement of an administrative inquiry following a determination of a violation of this act by an officer, employee or agent of the State of New Jersey or any other governmental unit and for the imposition of administrative sanctions against such officer, employee or agent if warranted.

f. A county prosecutor may settle a claim for damages brought against the county of his jurisdiction or any other governmental unit under this section.

L.1979, c. 488, s. 3, eff. Feb. 28, 1980.