Texas Health and Safety Code 246.117 – Civil Liability
(a) A provider who makes a continuing care contract without complying with the disclosure statement requirement under Subchapter C, or who makes a continuing care contract with a person who has relied on a disclosure statement that omits a material fact required to be stated in the statement or necessary to make the statement accurate, is liable to the person with whom the continuing care contract is made for:
(1) actual damages;
(2) repayment of all fees paid to the provider minus the reasonable value of care and lodging provided to the person by or on whose behalf the continuing care contract was made before the violation, misstatement, or omission was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered;
(3) interest at the legal rate for judgments;
(4) court costs; and
(5) reasonable attorney’s fees.
(b) A provider is liable under this section regardless of whether the provider had actual knowledge of the misstatement or omission.
Terms Used In Texas Health and Safety Code 246.117
- Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) A person may not file or maintain an action under this section if the person, before filing the action, received a written offer of a refund of all amounts paid to the provider, facility, or person violating this chapter and reasonable interest from the date of payment, minus the reasonable value of care and lodging provided before the receipt of the offer and:
(1) the offer states the provisions of this section; and
(2) the recipient of the offer fails to accept the offer within 30 days after the date the offer is received.
(d) A person must bring suit under this section not later than three years after:
(1) the date on which the continuing care contract was entered into; or
(2) the violation, misstatement, or omission is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
(e) Except as expressly provided by this chapter, civil liability does not arise in favor of a private party by implication from or as a result of the violation of this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter.
(f) This chapter does not limit a liability that would exist under any other statute or common law if this chapter were not in effect.
(g) The provisions of this chapter are not exclusive and the remedies provided by this chapter are in addition to any other remedies provided by any other law.