32-2197.19. Civil liabilities; prohibitions; limitations

A. If any part of the notice of intention filed pursuant to section 32-2197.02 contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact required to be stated in such notice, the developer or agent is liable as provided in this section to any person who acquires a timeshare interest in the timeshare plan covered by the notice of intention during the period the notice of intention remained uncorrected, unless it is proved that at the time of such acquisition the person acquiring the timeshare interest knew of such untruth or omission.

B. A developer or agent who sells or leases a timeshare interest in a timeshare plan in violation of section 32-2197.09 or by means of a public report which contains an untrue statement of a material fact, or omits a material fact required to be stated in such report, is liable to the purchaser of such timeshare interest as provided in this section.

C. No developer or agent shall, in selling or leasing, or offering to sell or lease, any timeshare interest in a timeshare plan:

1. Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud.

2. Obtain money or property by means of a material misrepresentation with respect to any information included in the notice of intention or the public report or with respect to any other information pertinent to the timeshare interest or timeshare plan and upon which the purchaser relies.

3. Engage in any transaction, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon a purchaser.

D. Damages in any suit brought pursuant to this section are the difference between the amount paid for the timeshare interest, together with the reasonable cost of improvements to such timeshare interest, and whichever of the following amount is less:

1. The value of the timeshare interest and improvements as of the time such suit was brought.

2. The price at which the timeshare interest was disposed of in a bona fide market transaction prior to the suit.

3. The price at which the timeshare interest was disposed of in a bona fide market transaction after suit was brought, but prior to judgment.

E. In any action in which a violation of this section is established, the purchaser is also entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees as determined by the court. If a violation is not established, the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the defendant.

F. Every person who becomes liable to make any payment pursuant to this section may recover contribution as in cases of contract from any person who, if sued separately, would have been liable to make the same payment.

G. The amount recoverable pursuant to this section shall not exceed the sum of the purchase price of the timeshare interest, the reasonable cost of improvements installed by the purchaser and reasonable court costs and attorney fees.

H. This section does not preclude any other remedies that may exist at law or in equity.

I. An action shall not be maintained to enforce any liability created pursuant to subsection A or B of this section unless brought within one year after the discovery of the untrue statement or the omission, or after such discovery should have been made by the exercise of reasonable diligence. An action shall not be maintained to enforce any liability created pursuant to subsection C of this section unless brought within two years after the violation upon which it is based. Any such action under subsection C of this section shall not be brought by a purchaser more than three years after the sale or lease to such purchaser.