Sec. 324.101. PRIVATE ACTION. (a) Any of the following persons, if adversely affected by the violation, may bring a civil action against a person who violates Section 324.051, 324.052, 324.053, or 324.054:

(1) a provider of computer software;

(2) an owner of a web page or trademark;

(3) a telecommunications carrier;

(4) a cable operator; or

(5) an Internet service provider.

(b) Each separate violation of this chapter is an actionable violation.

(c) In addition to any other remedy provided by law and except as provided by Subsection (g), a person who brings an action under this section may obtain:

(1) injunctive relief that restrains the violator from continuing the violation;

(2) subject to Subsection (d), damages in an amount equal to the greater of:

(A) actual damages arising from the violation; or

(B) $100,000 for each violation of the same nature; or

(3) both injunctive relief and damages.

(d) The court may increase the amount of an award of actual damages in an action brought under Subsection (c) to an amount not to exceed three times the amount of actual damages sustained if the court finds that the violation has reoccurred with sufficient frequency to constitute a pattern or practice.

(e) A plaintiff who prevails in an action brought under Subsection (c) is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.

(f) For purposes of Subsection (c), violations are of the same nature if the violations consist of the same course of conduct or action, regardless of the number of times the conduct or act occurred.

(g) If a violation of Section 324.052 causes a telecommunications carrier or cable operator to incur costs for the origination, transport, or termination of a call triggered using the modem of a customer of the telecommunications carrier or cable operator as a result of the violation, the telecommunications carrier or cable operator may in addition to any other remedy provided by law:

(1) apply to a court for an order to enjoin the violation;

(2) recover the charges the telecommunications carrier or cable operator is obligated to pay to a telecommunications carrier, a cable operator, another provider of transmission capability, or an information service provider as a result of the violation, including charges for the origination, transport, or termination of the call;

(3) recover the costs of handling customer inquiries or complaints with respect to amounts billed for calls as a result of the violation;

(4) recover other costs, including court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees; or

(5) both apply for injunctive relief and recover charges and other costs as provided by this subsection.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 885 (H.B. 2278), Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 718 (S.B. 28), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2009.