Any natural or legal person who acts in a dilatory or abusive manner on the basis of this chapter may be ordered to pay a civil fine, the amount of which may not exceed 20% of the amount of the claim for damages. In the absence of a claim for damages, the amount of the civil fine may not exceed €60,000.
The civil fine may be ordered by the court.
The civil fine may be imposed without prejudice to the award of damages to the party who is the victim of dilatory or abusive proceedings.