North Carolina General Statutes 45-36.19. Liability of satisfaction agent
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a satisfaction agent or any person purporting to be a satisfaction agent that records or submits for recording an affidavit of satisfaction of a security instrument erroneously or with knowledge that the statements contained in the affidavit are false is liable to the secured creditor for any actual damages caused by the recording and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
(b) A satisfaction agent that records or submits for recording an affidavit of satisfaction of a security instrument erroneously is not liable if the agent properly complied with this Article, gave notification to the secured creditor in the manner prescribed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-36.14, and the secured creditor did not respond in a timely manner to the notification pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-36.14(a)(5).
(c) If a satisfaction agent or any person purporting to be a satisfaction agent records or submits for recording an affidavit of satisfaction of a security instrument with knowledge that the statements contained in the affidavit are false, this section does not preclude any of the following:
(1) A court from awarding punitive damages on account of the conduct.
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 45-36.19
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(2) The secured creditor from proceeding against the satisfaction agent or person purporting to be a satisfaction agent under law of this State other than this Article.
(3) The enforcement of any criminal statute prohibiting the conduct. (2005-123, s. 1; 2013-204, s. 2.7.)