42 U.S.C. § 2000aa-6 : US Code - Section 2000AA-6: Civil actions by aggrieved persons

Search 42 U.S.C. § 2000aa-6 : US Code - Section 2000AA-6: Civil actions by aggrieved persons

(a) Right of action
A person aggrieved by a search for or seizure of materials in
violation of this chapter shall have a civil cause of action for
damages for such search or seizure - 
(1) against the United States, against a State which has waived
its sovereign immunity under the Constitution to a claim for
damages resulting from a violation of this chapter, or against
any other governmental unit, all of which shall be liable for
violations of this chapter by their officers or employees while
acting within the scope or under color of their office or
employment; and
(2) against an officer or employee of a State who has violated
this chapter while acting within the scope or under color of his
office or employment, if such State has not waived its sovereign
immunity as provided in paragraph (1).
(b) Good faith defense
It shall be a complete defense to a civil action brought under
paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this section that the officer or
employee had a reasonable good faith belief in the lawfulness of
his conduct.
(c) Official immunity
The United States, a State, or any other governmental unit liable
for violations of this chapter under subsection (a)(1) of this
section, may not assert as a defense to a claim arising under this
chapter the immunity of the officer or employee 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 judicial officer.
(d) Exclusive nature of remedy
The remedy provided by subsection (a)(1) of this section against
the United States, a State, or any other governmental unit is
exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding for conduct
constituting a violation of this chapter, against the officer or
employee whose violation gave rise to the claim, or against the
estate of such officer or employee.
(e) Admissibility of evidence
Evidence otherwise admissible in a proceeding shall not be
excluded on the basis of a violation of this chapter.
(f) Damages; costs and attorneys' fees
A person having a cause of action under this section shall be
entitled to recover actual damages but not less than liquidated
damages of $1,000, and such reasonable attorneys' fees and other
litigation costs reasonably incurred as the court, in its
discretion, may award: Provided, however, That the United States, a
State, or any other governmental unit shall not be liable for
interest prior to judgment.
(g) Attorney General; claims settlement; regulations
The Attorney General may settle a claim for damages brought
against the United States under this section, and shall promulgate
regulations to provide for the commencement of an administrative
inquiry following a determination of a violation of this chapter by
an officer or employee of the United States and for the imposition
of administrative sanctions against such officer or employee, if
warranted.
(h) Jurisdiction
The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil
actions arising under this section.