37-5B-49. Civil damages or rescission. A person who violates any provision of this chapter or any rule or order thereunder is liable to the franchisee for actual damages, costs, and attorneys and experts fees. In the case of a violation of §§ 37-5B-4, 37-5B-7 to 37-5B-9, inclusive, or 37-5B-17, the franchisee may also sue for rescission. No person is liable under this section if the defendant proves that the plaintiff affirmed the transaction with knowledge of the facts concerning the violation.

Each person who directly or indirectly controls a person liable under this section, each principal executive officer or director of a person so liable, each person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, and each agent, employee of a person so liable, who materially aids in the act or transaction constituting the violation, is also liable jointly and severally with and to the same extent as such person, unless the person liable proves that he or she did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of the existence of the facts by reason of which the liability is alleged to exist.

In any suit authorized by this section, other relief may be awarded as the court deems appropriate and the court may in its discretion, if the circumstances are sufficiently egregious, increase the award of damages to an amount not to exceed three times the actual damage sustained.

Except as explicitly provided in this section, no civil liability in favor of any private party may arise against any person by implication from or as a result of the violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule or order thereunder. Nothing in this section limits any liability which would exist by virtue of any other statute or under common law if this chapter were not in effect.

Source: SL 2008, ch 203, § 49.