Texas Transportation Code 730.0123 – Civil Suit
(a) A person who sells to a person who is not an authorized recipient personal information obtained by an agency in connection with a motor vehicle record is liable to the person who is the subject of the information for:
(1) actual damages;
(2) if the actual damages to the person are less than $2,500, an additional amount so that the total amount of damages equals $2,500; and
(3) court costs incurred by the person who is the subject of the information in bringing the action.
(b) A person whose personal information has been disclosed for compensation to a person who is not an authorized recipient may sue for:
(1) the damages, costs, and fees authorized under Subsection (a);
(2) injunctive relief; and
(3) any other equitable remedy determined to be appropriate by the court.
Terms Used In Texas Transportation Code 730.0123
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- 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
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- 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
(c) A district court has exclusive original jurisdiction over a cause of action brought under this section.