(a) Civil action The Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate district court of the United States against any person who— (1) engages in a pattern or practice of violating this chapter; or (2) engages in a violation of this chapter that raises an issue of significant public importance. (b) Relief In a civil action commenced under subsection (a), the court may— (1) grant any appropriate equitable or declaratory relief with respect to the violation of this chapter; (2) award all other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, to any person aggrieved by the violation; and (3) may, to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty— (A) in an amount not exceeding $55,000 for a first violation; and (B) in an amount not exceeding $110,000 for any subsequent violation. (c) Intervention Upon timely application, a person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter with respect to which the civil action is commenced may intervene in such action, and may obtain such appropriate relief as the person could obtain in a civil action under section 4042 of this title with respect to that violation, along with costs and a reasonable attorney fee. (Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title VIII, § 801, as added Pub. L. 111–275, title III, § 303(a) , Oct. 13, 2010 , 124 Stat. 2877 .) Editorial Notes Codification Section was formerly classified to section 597 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.