32-2195.06. Civil liabilities

A. When any part of the notice of intention filed pursuant to section 32-2195 contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact required to be stated in such notice, the owner or agent shall be liable as provided in this section to any person who acquires land covered by such notice of intention during such period the notice of intention remained uncorrected unless it is proved that at the time of such acquisition the person acquiring the land knew of such untruth or omission.

B. Any owner or agent who sells or leases unsubdivided lands subject to this article in violation of section 32-2195.03 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 shall be liable to the purchaser of such land as provided in this section.

C. It is unlawful for an owner or agent in selling or leasing, or offering to sell or lease, any unsubdivided lands subject to this article to:

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 parcel 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 shall be the difference between the amount paid for the land together with the reasonable cost of improvements to such land and whichever of the following amount is the smallest:

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

2. The price at which such land was disposed of in a bona fide market transaction prior to suit.

3. The price at which such land 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 shall also be entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees as determined by the court. If a violation is not established, the court, in its discretion, 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. In no case shall the amount recoverable pursuant to this section exceed the sum of the purchase price of the land, the reasonable cost of improvements installed by the purchaser and reasonable court costs and attorneys fees.

H. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to preclude any other remedies that may exist at law or in equity.

I. No action shall 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. No action shall 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. In no event shall any such action be brought by a purchaser more than three years after the sale or lease to such purchaser.