Oregon Statutes 618.516 – Civil action by private party; damages; attorney fees and costs; effect of court action; time for commencing action
(1) Any person who purchases or leases goods or services and thereby suffers any ascertainable loss of money or property, real or personal, as a result of a willful security seal violation may bring an individual action in an appropriate court to recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. The court or the jury, as the case may be, may award punitive damages and the court may provide such equitable relief as it considers necessary or proper.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 618.516
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- 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.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
- Security seal: means a lead-and-wire seal, or similar nonreusable closure, attached to a weighing or measuring instrument or device for protection against undetectable access, removal, adjustment or unauthorized use. See Oregon Statutes 618.010
- Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) Upon commencement of any action brought under subsection (1) of this section, the clerk of the court shall mail a copy of the complaint or other initial pleading to the Attorney General and, upon entry of any judgment in the action, shall mail a copy of such judgment to the Attorney General.
(3) In any action brought by a person under this section, the court may award to the prevailing party reasonable attorney fees at trial and on appeal and costs.
(4) Any permanent injunction or judgment or order of the court made under ORS § 618.506 or 618.511 is prima facie evidence, in an action brought under this section, that the respondent committed a security seal violation, but an assurance of voluntary compliance, whether or not approved by the court, shall not be evidence of such violation.
(5) Actions brought under this section shall be commenced within one year from the discovery of the security seal violation. However, whenever any complaint is filed by a prosecuting attorney to prevent, restrain or punish security seal violations, the running of the statute of limitations with respect to every private right of action under this section and based in whole or in part on any matter complained of in the proceeding shall be suspended during the pendency thereof. [1973 c.294 § 5; 1981 c.897 § 71; 1995 c.618 § 91; 2003 c.576 § 526]
[Repealed by 1973 c.293 § 55]