DENVER — Employees at smaller Colorado businesses will have more legal remedies for discrimination cases under a bill Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law amid strong opposition from business groups worried about litigation.

Hickenlooper signed the bill Monday. He says in a statement that he understands the concerns from the business community but notes the bill was written "with safeguards against frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage claims."

Currently, employees at companies with fewer than 15 workers can sue for discrimination, but the law limits what a court can award them. For example, employees at smaller companies who prove they were discriminated against can't get compensatory or punitive damages, and they can't recover reasonable attorneys' fees

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