Current through 2024 Regular Session legislation effective June 6, 2024
Section 646A.348 - Action by Attorney General; civil penalty; injunction; damages; attorney fees and costs(1) The Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the state against any mail agent for violation of ORS 646A.342 or 646A.344. Upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence of a violation of ORS 646A.342 or 646A.344, a mail agent shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for an initial violation. For a second or subsequent violation, the mail agent shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation.(2) The Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the state against any mail agent or other person or entity to restrain or prevent any violation of ORS 646A.342 or 646A.344.(3) The Attorney General may bring an action on behalf of a person to obtain the damages caused to the person by a mail agent's violation of ORS 646A.342 or 646A.344.(4) The court may award reasonable attorney fees and costs of investigation, preparation and litigation to the Attorney General if the Attorney General prevails in an action under this section. The court may award reasonable attorney fees and costs of investigation, preparation and litigation to a defendant who prevails in an action under this section if the court determines that the Attorney General had no objectively reasonable basis for asserting the claim or no reasonable basis for appealing an adverse decision of the trial court.