Oregon Statutes 646A.476 – Civil action for damages; attorney fees; limitation on actions
(1) In addition to pursuing any other remedy, a consumer may bring a private cause of action to recover damages caused by a violation of any provision of ORS § 646A.460 to 646A.476. The court shall award a consumer who prevails in such an action pecuniary loss and noneconomic damages, together with costs, disbursements, reasonable attorney fees and any equitable relief that the court determines is appropriate. Pecuniary loss caused by a violation of ORS § 646A.460 to 646A.476 shall include collateral costs, beginning at the time of the violation, whether or not the consumer acquired the rights provided by ORS § 646A.466. If a consumer has submitted a dispute arising under ORS § 646A.460 to 646A.476 to a dispute resolution procedure as described in ORS § 646A.472, the consumer may not bring a private cause of action under this section relating to that dispute until a decision resulting from the dispute resolution procedure has been issued or until the consumer has withdrawn the dispute from the dispute resolution procedure.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 646A.476
- 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
(2) If a consumer appeals to a court from a decision resulting from the dispute resolution procedure described in ORS § 646A.472 because the consumer was not granted one of the remedies by ORS § 646A.460 to 646A.476, and the consumer is granted one of the remedies by the court, the consumer shall be awarded:
(a) Up to three times the amount of any damages awarded if the court finds that the party opposing the consumer did not act in good faith in the dispute resolution procedure;
(b) Reasonable attorney fees; and
(c) Any fees incurred in the dispute resolution procedure and any judicial action.
(3) If the party opposing the consumer is the prevailing party in an action brought under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the party opposing the consumer shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees if the court finds the action to have been frivolous.
(4) Any action brought under this section shall be commenced during the period beginning one year after the date the assistive device was originally delivered to the consumer and ending two years later. [Formerly 646.498]
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