30-14-1605. Penalties -- department to enforce civil, criminal, and injunctive relief -- private actions -- defenses -- statute of limitations. (1) (a) The department or a county attorney may initiate proceedings relating to a knowing violation or threatened knowing violation of 30-14-1602 or 30-14-1604.

(b) The proceedings may include a request for any of the following:

(i) an injunction;

(ii) a civil penalty up to a maximum of $5,000 for each knowing violation;

(iii) additional relief that a court of competent jurisdiction may order.

(c) The department may issue investigative demands, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and conduct hearings in the course of investigating a violation of 30-14-1602 or 30-14-1604.

(2) In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (1), any person or entity that violates 30-14-1604 is subject to all penalties, including criminal penalties, remedies, and procedures provided in the unfair trade practices and consumer protection laws, as provided for in Title 30, chapter 14, parts 1 and 2. The remedies available in this section are cumulative and in addition to any other remedies available by law.

(3) Any residential subscriber who has received more than one telephone solicitation within any 12-month period by or on behalf of the same person or entity in violation of 30-14-1602 or 30-14-1604 may bring an action to:

(a) enjoin the violation; and

(b) recover the greater of:

(i) the actual monetary loss from a knowing violation; or

(ii) $5,000 in damages for each knowing violation.

(4) It is a defense in any action or proceeding brought pursuant to this section that the defendant has established and implemented, with due care, reasonable practices and procedures to effectively prevent telephone solicitations in violation of 30-14-1602 or 30-14-1604.

(5) An action or proceeding may not be brought pursuant to this section more than 2 years after:

(a) the person bringing the action knew or should have known of the occurrence of the alleged violation; or

(b) the termination of any proceeding or action arising out of the same violation or violations by the state of Montana.

(6) A court of this state may exercise personal jurisdiction, in the manner provided by law, over any nonresident or the nonresident's executor or administrator as to an action or proceeding authorized by this section.

(7) The remedies, duties, prohibitions, and penalties provided in this part are not exclusive and are in addition to all other causes of action, remedies, and penalties provided by law.

(8) A provider of telephone caller identification service may not be held liable for violations of 30-14-1602 or 30-14-1604 that are committed by other persons or entities.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 589, L. 2003.