Title 40 · WY
40-12-105, and that proceedings would be in the public interest,
Citation: Wyo. Stat. § 40-12-105
Section: 40-12-105
40-12-105, and that proceedings would be in the public interest, he may bring an action in the name of this state against such person to restrain by temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction the use of such practice. The action may be brought in the district court of the county in which the person resides or has his principal place of business or in the district court of Laramie county, Wyoming. The district court may issue temporary restraining orders, including ex parte temporary restraining orders, or preliminary or permanent injunctions, in accordance with the principles of equity, to restrain and prevent violations of this act. The court may make such additional orders or judgments as are necessary to compensate identifiable persons for actual damages or restoration of money or property, real or personal, which may have been acquired by means or any act or practice restrained.
40-12-107. Assurances of voluntary compliance.
The enforcing authority may accept written assurance of voluntary compliance with respect to any practice believed to be violative of W.S. 40-12-105 from any person who is engaged or is about to engage in such practice. Such assurance is not considered an admission of violation for any purpose. Proof of failure to comply with the assurance of voluntary compliance is prima facie evidence of a violation of this act. Matters closed by virtue of the acceptance of an assurance of voluntary compliance may at any time be reopened by the enforcing authority for further proceedings in the public interest, pursuant to W.S. 40-12-106.
40-12-108. Private remedies.
(a) A person relying upon an uncured unlawful deceptive trade practice may bring an action under this act for the damages he has actually suffered as a consumer as a result of such unlawful deceptive trade practice.
(b) Any person who is entitled to bring an action under subsection (a) of this section on his own behalf against an alleged violator of this act for damages for an unlawful deceptive trade practice may bring a class action against such person on behalf of any class of persons of which he is a member and which has been damaged by such unlawful deceptive trade practice, subject to and pursuant to the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure governing class actions, except as herein expressly provided. If the court determines that actual damages have been suffered by reason of the unlawful deceptive trade practice, the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the plaintiffs in a class action under this subsection, provided that such fees shall be determined by the amount of time reasonably expended by the attorney for the plaintiffs and not by the amount of the judgment. Any monies or property recovered in a class action under this subsection which cannot, with due diligence, be restored to consumers within one (1) year after judgment becomes final shall be returned to the party depositing the same.
40-12-109. Limitation of actions.
No action may be brought under this act, except under W.S. 40- 12-106, unless the consumer bringing the action gives within the following time limits notice in writing to the alleged violator of the act, (a) within one (1) year after the initial discovery of the unlawful deceptive trade practice, (b) within two (2) years following such consumer transaction, whichever occurs first, and unless the unlawful deceptive trade practice becomes an uncured unlawful deceptive trade practice as defined in this act. The notice required under this section shall state fully the nature of the alleged unlawful deceptive trade practice and the actual damage suffered therefrom. No action may be brought under this act, except under W.S. 40-12-106, unless said action is initiated within one (1) year after the furnishing of notice as required under this section.
40-12-110. Exemptions.
(a) Nothing in this act shall apply to:
(i) Acts or practices required or permitted by state or federal law, rule or regulation or judicial or administrative decision;
(ii) Acts or practices by the publisher, owner, agent or employee of a newspaper, periodical, radio or television station or any other person without knowledge of the deceptive character of the advertisement in the publication or dissemination of an advertisement supplied by another.
40-12-111. Violations involving older persons or persons with disabilities; civil penalty.
(a) As used in this section:
(i) "Person with disabilities" means any person who has a mental or educational impairment which substantially limits one (1) or more major life activities; (ii) "Major life activities" means functions associated with the normal activities of independent daily living such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working;
(iii) "Mental or educational impairment" means:
(A) Any mental or psychological disorder or specific learning disability;
(B) Any educational deficiency which substantially affects a person's ability to read and comprehend the terms of any contractual agreement entered into.
(iv) "Older person" means a person who is over sixty (60) years of age.
(b) Any person who willfully uses, or has willfully used, a method, act or practice in violation of this act which victimizes or attempts to victimize an older person or a person with disabilities, and commits such violation when the person knew or should have known that the conduct was unfair or deceptive, shall make restitution or reimbursement to the older person or person with disabilities including reasonable attorney fees and costs, and, in addition, is liable for a civil penalty of up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) for each violation recoverable by the office of the attorney general.
40-12-112. Investigative powers of enforcing authority.
(a) If, by inquiry by the enforcing authority or as a result of complaints, the enforcing authority has probable cause to believe that a person has engaged in, or is engaging in, an act or practice that violates this act, investigators designated by the Wyoming attorney general may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses or matter, and collect evidence. Within five (5) days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the service of a subpoena or at any time before the return date specified therein, whichever is longer, the party served may file in the district court in the county in which the party resides or in which the party transacts business, or in the district court for the first judicial district of Wyoming, and serve upon the enforcing authority a petition for an order modifying or setting aside the subpoena. The petitioner may raise any objection or privilege which would be available under this act or upon service of a subpoena in a civil action. The subpoena shall inform the party served of the party's rights under this subsection.
(b) If matter that the enforcing authority seeks to obtain by subpoena is located outside the state, the person subpoenaed may make it available to the enforcing authority to examine the matter at the place where it is located. The enforcing authority may designate representatives, including officials of the state in which the matter is located, to inspect the matter on its behalf, and the enforcing authority may respond to similar requests from officials of other states.
(c) Upon failure of a person without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected, the enforcing authority may apply to the district court for an order compelling compliance.
(d) The enforcing authority may request that an individual who refuses to comply with a subpoena on the ground that testimony or matter may incriminate the individual, be ordered by the court to provide the testimony or matter. Except in a prosecution for perjury, an individual who complies with a court order to provide testimony or matter after asserting a privilege against self-incrimination to which the individual is entitled by law shall not have the testimony or matter so provided, or evidence derived therefrom, received against the individual in any criminal investigation or proceeding.
(e) Any person upon whom a subpoena is served pursuant to this section shall comply with the terms thereof unless otherwise provided by order of the court. Any person who fails to appear with the intent to avoid, evade or prevent compliance in whole or in part with any investigation under this act or who removes from any place, conceals, withholds, mutilates, alters or destroys, or by any other means falsifies any documentary material in the possession, custody or control of any person subject to the subpoena, or knowingly conceals any relevant information with the intent to avoid, evade or prevent compliance is liable for a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
(f) Whenever criminal or civil intelligence, investigative information or any other information held by any state or federal agency is available to the enforcing authority on a confidential or a similarly restricted basis, the enforcing authority, in the course of the investigation of any violation of this act, may obtain and use the information. Any intelligence or investigative information that is confidential or exempt under W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205 retains its status as confidential or exempt.
40-12-113. Civil penalties.
(a) The enforcing authority, upon petition to the court, may recover, on behalf of the state, a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) from any person who violates the terms of a permanent injunction issued under W.S.