§ 11-52.1-5 — § 11-52.1-5. Civil action.

Rhode Island § 11-52.1-5

• Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
• Title 11: Criminal Offenses
• Ch. 11-52.1: Internet Misrepresentation of Business Affiliation Act

Text

§ 11-52.1-5. Civil action.

(a) The attorney general, or any person who either is engaged in the business of providing Internet access service to the public or owns a webpage or trademark and is adversely affected by reason of a violation of the chapter, may bring a civil action against a person who violates this chapter in order to:

(1) enjoin further violations of this chapter; and

(2) recover the greater of: (i) the actual damages incurred as a result of such violation(s); or (ii) five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each violation of this chapter.

(b) In any action brought pursuant to this section, the court may increase the damage award to an amount equal to not more than three (3) times the amount otherwise available under this section, if the court determines that the violating party has engaged in a pattern and practice of violating this chapter. The attorney general or other aggrieved party may also recover reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, and any other relief that the court deems appropriate.

(c) For purposes of this chapter, multiple violations resulting from any single action shall constitute one violation.

(d) A the request of any party to an action brought pursuant to this section, the court may, in its discretion, conduct all legal proceedings in such a way as to protect the secrecy and security of the information involved in order to prevent possible recurrence of the same or a similar act by another person and to protect any trade secrets of any party.

(e) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit any person's right to pursue any additional civil remedy otherwise allowed by law.

Legislative History

P.L. 2006, ch. 558, § 1.