Oregon Statutes 646A.112 – Injunction of sham sale; evidence; attorney fees; defense; definitions
(1) As used in this section:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 646A.112
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
(a) ‘Appropriate court’ has the meaning given that term in ORS § 646.605.
(b) ‘Relevant market’ means:
(A) A product market that consists of products or services that a consumer would regard as interchangeable or substitutable by reason of the products’ or services’ characteristics, prices and intended use; or
(B) A geographic market that consists of the area in which the persons concerned are involved in the supply of a product or service and in which the conditions of competition are sufficiently homogenous.
(c) ‘Sham sale’ means a going out of business sale, as defined in ORS § 646A.100, conducted with the intent to continue the same or a similar business in the same location or at a location within the same relevant market but that is a sale that is represented as being conducted due to a cessation of business.
(2) A person may bring an action in an appropriate court to enjoin another person in the same relevant market from conducting a sham sale if the person reasonably believes the other person is conducting a sham sale. The court may provide such equitable relief as it deems necessary or proper.
(3) In an action brought by a person under this section, the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the person.
(4) It is prima facie evidence that a person alleged to be conducting a sham sale has the intent to continue the same or a similar business if:
(a) The person regularly receives additional inventory during the sham sale or, immediately prior to the sham sale, receives additional inventory that is not regularly delivered;
(b) The sham sale exceeds 90 days; or
(c) The same or a similar business that consists of inventory remaining from the sham sale and that has the same principal ownership resumes business in the same relevant market within 12 months from the cessation of the business.
(5) It is an affirmative defense to an action brought under this section that, during an alleged sham sale, the person no longer needed to go out of business and immediately canceled the alleged sham sale. [2007 c.820 § 7]