---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 3330c"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "3330c"
heading: "Preference eligibles; remedy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/3330c"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart B — Employment and Retention"
  - "Chapter 33 — Examination, Selection, and Placement"
  - "Subchapter I — Examination, Certification, and Appointment"
---

# §3330c. Preference eligibles; remedy

- (a) If the Merit [Systems](/usc/5/8401.md?p=29) Protection [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) (in a proceeding under [section 3330a](/usc/5/3330a.md)) or a [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) (in a proceeding under [section 3330b](/usc/5/3330b.md)) determines that an [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) has violated a right described in [section 3330a](/usc/5/3330a.md), the [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) or [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) (as the case may be) shall order the [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) to comply with such provisions and award compensation for any [loss](/usc/5/8401.md?p=18) of wages or benefits suffered by the individual by reason of the violation involved. If the [Board](/usc/5/8401.md?p=5) or [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) determines that such violation was willful, it shall award an amount equal to backpay as liquidated damages.
- (b) A preference [eligible](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-3) who prevails in an action under section [3330a](/usc/5/3330a.md) or [3330b](/usc/5/3330b.md) shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–339, § 3(a), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3184.)