---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 15e"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "15e"
heading: "Distribution of damages"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/15e"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Monopolies and Combinations in Restraint of Trade"
---

# §15e. Distribution of damages


Monetary relief recovered in an action under [section 15c(a)(1) of this title](/usc/15/15c.md?p=a-1) shall—

- (1) be distributed in such manner as the district court in its discretion may authorize; or
- (2) be deemed a civil penalty by the court and deposited with the [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) as general revenues;

subject in either case to the requirement that any distribution procedure adopted afford each [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) a reasonable opportunity to secure his appropriate portion of the net monetary relief.


## Source credit

(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4E, as added Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1395.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.