4957 - Protection of employment of crime victims, family members of victims and witnesses.

     § 4957.  Protection of employment of crime victims, family                members of victims and witnesses.        (a)  General rule.--An employer shall not deprive an employee     of his employment, seniority position or benefits, or threaten     or otherwise coerce him with respect thereto, because the     employee attends court by reason of being a victim of, or a     witness to, a crime or a member of such victim's family. Nothing     in this section shall be construed to require the employer to     compensate the employee for employment time lost because of such     court attendance.        (b)  Penalty.--An employer who violates subsection (a)     commits a summary offense.        (c)  Civil remedy available.--If an employer penalizes an     employee in violation of subsection (a), the employee may bring     a civil action for recovery of wages and benefits lost as a     result of the violation and for an order requiring the     reinstatement of the employee. Damages recoverable shall not     exceed wages and benefits actually lost. If he prevails, the     employee shall be allowed a reasonable attorney fee fixed by the     court.        (d)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following     words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this     subsection:        "Family."  This term shall have the same meaning as in     section 103 of the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111),     known as the Crime Victims Act.        "Victim."  This term shall have the same meaning as "direct     victim" in section 103 of the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882,     No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act.     (Oct. 22, 1986, P.L.1451, No.142, eff. 60 days; June 28, 2002,     P.L.494, No.84, eff. 60 days)        2002 Amendment.  Act 84 amended the section heading and     subsec. (a) and added subsec. (d).        1986 Amendment.  Act 142 added section 4957.