Section 71-17-7 - Timing of civil action; relief may be sought under this chapter or Equal Pay Act of 1963 but not both; mandatory authority of published precedents; severability(1) A civil action brought under this chapter may be commenced no later than two (2) years from the day the employee knew or should have known his or her employer was in violation of this chapter.(2) If an employee brings a claim under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, a separate action may not be maintained under this chapter. If an employee brings a claim under this chapter, then later initiates a claim under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the action brought under this chapter shall be dismissed with prejudice. An employee who seeks relief under this chapter must first waive any right to relief under the Equal Pay Act of 1963.(3)(a) For any action under this chapter, published precedents of the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and federal district courts embracing the circuit court in which any action under this chapter is pending, deciding cases under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, after which this chapter is patterned, shall be considered mandatory authority and shall be followed by the circuit court in which the action is pending, until there is a contrary ruling interpreting this chapter by the Mississippi Supreme Court or the Mississippi Court of Appeals.(b) If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or any part of this chapter passed is declared to be unconstitutional or void, or if for any reason is declared to be invalid or of no effect, the remaining sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases or parts thereof shall be in no manner affected thereby but shall remain in full force and effect.Added by Laws, 2022, ch. 490, HB 770,§ 4, eff. 7/1/2022.