Any person who is injured by any violation of this division may bring an action for the recovery of damages, an equity proceeding to restrain and enjoin those violations, or both. The amount awarded may be up to three times the damages actually incurred, but in no event less than the amount paid by the aggrieved consumer to a person subject to this section. If the plaintiff prevails, the plaintiff shall be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. If a court determines by clear and convincing evidence that a breach or violation was willful, the court, in its discretion, may award punitive damages in addition to the amounts set forth above. Upon application, the court may also grant any equitable relief that it deems proper, including, but not limited to, a claim for restitution and disgorgement.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 777, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative on December 31, 2004, or sooner, pursuant to Section 23104.)

Terms Used In California Financial Code 23064

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a joint venture, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization, a government entity, or a political subdivision of a government entity. See California Financial Code 23001
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
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