3343

The Court of First Instance shall have exclusive primary jurisdiction on class suits filed pursuant to this chapter. Therefore, the court is hereby vested with authority to prevent, avoid, deter and punish any action to the prejudice of the consumers and/or independent merchants [irrespective] of the amount involved, and during the proceeding before final judgment is rendered, the court may enter such restrictive and prohibitive orders as it may deem fair and equitable pursuant to the act giving rise to the action.\nIn its order or judgment, the Court of First Instance shall impose an amount equal to the damages determined as compensation for damages, plus a reasonable amount not less than twenty-five percent (25%) for attorney’s fees, plus legal interest from the moment the damage is caused and costs of the proceedings. Any judicial action or suit filed individually may be settled through the intervention of the Consumers Service Administration, which shall have thirty (30) days after receiving notice of the settlement by the court to state its position on the matter.\nHistory —June 25, 1971, No. 118, p. 362, § 3; Nov. 16, 2002, No. 269, § 1.