(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.
(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]
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