(a) Any franchisee may bring an action for violation of sections 42-133l or 42-133m in the Superior Court to recover damages sustained by reason of such violation, which action shall be privileged in respect to its assignment for trial and, where appropriate, may apply for injunctive relief as provided in chapter 916. Such franchisee, if successful, shall be entitled to costs, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees.

(b) A final judgment, order or decree heretofore or hereafter rendered against a franchisor, in any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding under any federal or state act relating to antitrust laws or to franchising, or sections 42-133j to 42-133n, inclusive, shall be regarded as and may be introduced as evidence against such franchisor in any action brought by any party against such franchisor under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The pendency of any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding against a franchisor, its agents or representatives, brought by federal or state authorities or any of their respective agencies under any federal or state act relating to antitrust laws or to franchising, or under section 42-133l or 42-133m, shall toll the limitation of any civil action brought under sections 42-133j to 42-133n, inclusive, if the action hereunder is then instituted within one year after the final judgment or order in such proceedings, provided such limitation of actions shall in any case toll the law as long as there is actual concealment on the part of any franchisor, its agents or representatives.

(P.A. 77-493, S. 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 270.)

History: P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006.

Subsec. (a) merely secures the right of a franchisee to bring an action for violations of the Connecticut Petroleum Product Franchise Act, it says nothing of a franchisee's right to have that action decided by a jury rather than a judge. 176 CA 461.