Washington Code 9.35.060 – Consumer fraud targeting seniors, vulnerable individuals
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
|
Other versions
(1) It is the intent of this section to increase civil penalties for consumer fraud targeting a senior or a vulnerable individual.
Terms Used In Washington Code 9.35.060
- 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.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(2) Any consumer fraud that targets a senior or a vulnerable individual, as defined in RCW 9.35.005, is subject to civil penalties of three times the amount of actual damages.
(3) This section creates no new cause of action. This section increases penalties where a plaintiff proceeds under any existing cause of action under statute or common law and successfully proves that he or she was victim to consumer fraud that targeted him or her as a senior or vulnerable individual.
[ 2017 c 4 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 1501, approved November 8, 2016).]
NOTES:
Short title—Intent—Construction—2017 c 4 (Initiative Measure No. 1501): See notes following RCW 9.35.005.