[§663E-2] Recovery of damages. (a) One or more of the following persons may bring an action to recover for damages caused by an individual's use of an illegal drug:
(1) A parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, or sibling of the individual drug user;
(2) An individual who was exposed to an illegal drug in utero;
(3) An employer of the individual drug user;
(4) A medical facility, insurer, governmental entity, employer, or other entity that funds a drug treatment program or employee assistance program for the individual drug user or that otherwise expended money on behalf of the individual drug user; or
(5) A person injured as a result of the intentional, knowing, reckless, or negligent actions of an individual drug user.
(b) A person entitled to bring an action under this section may seek damages from one or more of the following:
(1) A person who knowingly distributed, or knowingly participated in the chain of distribution of, the illegal drug that was used by the individual drug user;
(2) A person who knowingly participated in the illegal drug market, but only if:
(A) The place of illegal drug activity by the individual drug user is within the illegal drug market target community of the defendant;
(B) The defendant's participation in the illegal drug market was involved with the same type of illegal drug used by the individual drug user; and
(C) The defendant participated in the illegal drug market at any time during the individual drug user’s period of illegal drug use.
(c) A person entitled to bring an action under this section may recover all of the following damages:
(1) Economic damages, including but not limited to the cost of treatment and rehabilitation, medical expenses, loss of economic or educational potential, loss of productivity, absenteeism, support expenses, accidents or injury, and any other pecuniary loss associated with the illegal drug use;
(2) Noneconomic damages, including but not limited to physical and emotional pain, suffering, physical impairment, emotional distress, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment, loss of companionship, services, and consortium, and other nonpecuniary losses associated with an individual’s use of an illegal drug;
(3) Exemplary damages;
(4) Reasonable attorney's fees; and
(5) Costs of suit, including but not limited to reasonable expenses for expert testimony. [L 2004, c 44, pt of §13]
Section: Previous 663e-1 663e-2 663e-3 663e-4 663e-5 663e-6 663e-7 663e-8 663e-9 663e-10 663e-11 663e-12 663e-13 NextLast modified: October 27, 2016