; and (2) punitive damages, if the court determines that the defendant had knowledge or was reckless with regard to the fact that the claim was meritless. (c) Attorney’s fees and costs In an action commenced under subsection (a), if the plaintiff is a prevailing party, the court shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to a plaintiff, allow a reasonable attorney’s fee to be paid by the defendant, and costs of the action. (d) Jurisdiction The district courts of the United States shall have concurrent original jurisdiction of all claims arising under subsection (a). (e) Enforcement by the attorney general (1) In general Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of transmitting demands for remuneration in exchange for settling, releasing, waiving, or otherwise not pursuing a claim that is, or could be, brought as part of a coronavirus-related action and that is meritless, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate district court of the United States. (2) Relief In a civil action under paragraph (1), the court may, to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the respondent in an amount not exceeding $50,000 per transmitted demand for remuneration in exchange for settling, releasing, waiving, or otherwise not pursuing a claim that is meritless. (3) Distribution of civil penalties If the Attorney General obtains civil penalties in accordance with paragraph (2), the Attorney General shall distribute the proceeds equitably among those persons aggrieved by the respondent’s pattern or practice of transmitting demands for remuneration in exchange for settling, releasing, waiving, or otherwise not pursuing a claim that is meritless. D Relation to labor and employment laws 181. Limitation on violations under specific laws (a) In general (1) Definition In this subsection, the term covered Federal employment law means any of the following: (A) The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970