(A)

(1) A buyer injured by a violation of section 1322.07, 1322.40, or 1322.46 of the Revised Code may bring an action for recovery of damages.

(2) Damages awarded under division (A)(1) of this section shall not be less than all compensation paid directly and indirectly to a registrant or mortgage loan originator from any source, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.

(3) The buyer may be awarded punitive damages.

(B)

(1) The superintendent of financial institutions or a buyer may directly bring an action to enjoin a violation of any provision of this chapter. The attorney general may directly bring an action to enjoin a violation of any provision of this chapter with the same rights, privileges, and powers as those described in section 1345.06 of the Revised Code. The prosecuting attorney of the county in which the action may be brought may bring an action to enjoin a violation of any provision of this chapter only if the prosecuting attorney first presents any evidence of the violation to the attorney general and, within a reasonable period of time, the attorney general has not agreed to bring the action.

(2) The superintendent may initiate criminal proceedings under this chapter by presenting any evidence of criminal violation to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the offense may be prosecuted. If the prosecuting attorney does not prosecute the violations, or at the request of the prosecuting attorney, the superintendent shall present any evidence of criminal violations to the attorney general, who may proceed in the prosecution with all the rights, privileges, and powers conferred by law on prosecuting attorneys, including the power to appear before grand juries and to interrogate witnesses before such grand juries. These powers of the attorney general shall be in addition to any other applicable powers of the attorney general.

(3) The prosecuting attorney of the county in which an alleged offense may be prosecuted may initiate criminal proceedings under this chapter.

(4) In order to initiate criminal proceedings under this chapter, the attorney general shall first present any evidence of criminal violations to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the alleged offense may be prosecuted. If, within a reasonable period of time, the prosecuting attorney has not agreed to prosecute the violations, the attorney general may proceed in the prosecution with all the rights, privileges, and powers described in division (B)(2) of this section.

(5) When a judgment under this section becomes final, the clerk of court shall mail a copy of the judgment, including supporting opinions, to the superintendent.

(C) The remedies provided by this section are in addition to any other remedy provided by law.

(D) In any proceeding or action brought under this chapter, the burden of proving an exemption under those sections is on the person claiming the benefit of the exemption.

(E) No person shall be deemed to violate any provision of this chapter with respect to any act taken or omission made in reliance on a written notice, written interpretation, or written report from the superintendent, unless there is a subsequent amendment to those provisions, or rules promulgated thereunder, that affects the superintendent's notice, interpretation, or report.

(F) Upon disbursement of mortgage loan proceeds to or on behalf of the buyer, the registrant that assisted the buyer to obtain the mortgage loan is deemed to have completed the performance of the registrant's services for the buyer and owes no additional duties or obligations to the buyer with respect to the mortgage loan. However, nothing in this division shall be construed to limit or preclude the civil or criminal liability of a registrant for failing to comply with this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter, for failing to comply with any provision of or duty arising under an agreement with a buyer or lender under this chapter, or for violating any other provision of state or federal law.

(G) A buyer injured by a violation of any of the sections specified in division (A)(1) of this section is precluded from recovering any damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs, if the buyer has also recovered any damages in a cause of action initiated under section 1322.45 of the Revised Code and the recovery of damages for a violation of any of the sections specified in division (A)(1) of this section is based on the same acts or circumstances as the basis for recovery of damages in section 1322.45 of the Revised Code.

Renumbered from § 1322.11 by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 199, §1, eff. 3/23/2018.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 05-02-2002; 01-01-2007

Related Legislative Provision: See 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §745.60.