(a) Any aggrieved person who has reason to believe that any other person has been engaged, is engaged or is about to engage in an alleged violation of any provision of section 53a-251 may bring an action against such person and may apply to the Superior Court for: (1) An order temporarily or permanently restraining and enjoining the commencement or continuance of such act or acts; (2) an order directing restitution; or (3) an order directing the appointment of a receiver. Subject to making due provisions for the rights of innocent persons, a receiver shall have the power to sue for, collect, receive and take into his possession any property which belongs to the person who is alleged to have violated any provision of section 53a-251 and which may have been derived by, been used in or aided in any manner such alleged violation. Such property shall include goods and chattels, rights and credits, moneys and effects, books, records, documents, papers, choses in action, bills, notes and property of every description including all computer system equipment and data, and including property with which such property has been commingled if it cannot be identified in kind because of such commingling. The receiver shall also have the power to sell, convey and assign all of the foregoing and hold and dispose of the proceeds thereof under the direction of the court. Any person who has suffered damages as a result of an alleged violation of any provision of section 53a-251, and submits proof to the satisfaction of the court that he has in fact been damaged, may participate with general creditors in the distribution of the assets to the extent he has sustained out-of-pocket losses. The court shall have jurisdiction of all questions arising in such proceedings and may make such orders and judgments therein as may be required.
(b) The court may award the relief applied for or such other relief as it may deem appropriate in equity.
(c) Independent of or in conjunction with an action under subsection (a) of this section, any person who suffers any injury to person, business or property may bring an action for damages against a person who is alleged to have violated any provision of section 53a-251. The aggrieved person shall recover actual damages and damages for unjust enrichment not taken into account in computing damages for actual loss, and treble damages where there has been a showing of wilful and malicious conduct.
(d) Proof of pecuniary loss is not required to establish actual damages in connection with an alleged violation of subsection (e) of section 53a-251 arising from misuse of private personal data.
(e) In any civil action brought under this section, the court shall award to any aggrieved person who prevails, reasonable costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
(f) The filing of a criminal action against a person is not a prerequisite to the bringing of a civil action under this section against such person.
(g) A civil action may be brought under this section against the state or any political subdivision thereof and the defense of governmental immunity shall not be available in any such action. The rights and liability of the state or any political subdivision thereof in each such action shall be coextensive with and shall equal the rights and liability of private persons in like circumstances.
(h) No civil action under this section may be brought but within three years from the date the alleged violation of section 53a-251 is discovered or should have been discovered by the exercise of reasonable diligence.
(P.A. 84-206, S. 13.)
See Sec. 53-452 re civil action for computer crimes.
Cited. 49 CA 582. Meaning of “who prevails” in Subsec. (e) discussed. 86 CA 527.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 925 - Statutory Rights of Action and Defenses
Section 52-555. - Actions for injuries resulting in death.
Section 52-556. - Actions for injuries caused by motor vehicles owned by the state.
Section 52-557. - Injury to children being transported to school.
Section 52-557a. - Standard of care owed social invitee.
Section 52-557c. - Standard of care applicable to owners and operators of school buses.
Section 52-557d. - Defense of charitable immunity abolished.
Section 52-557f. - Landowner liability for recreational use of land. Definitions.
Section 52-557g. - Liability of owner of land available to public for recreation; exceptions.
Section 52-557h. - Owner liable, when.
Section 52-557i. - Obligation of user of land.
Section 52-557o. - Liability of land surveyors.
Section 52-557s. - Liability of owner or keeper of horse, pony, donkey or mule.
Section 52-558. - Liability for placing obstructions in highway.
Section 52-559. - Damage for spreading fire.
Section 52-560. - Damages for cutting trees, timber or shrubbery. Exclusion.
Section 52-561. - Trespass to lands without color of right.
Section 52-561a. - Damage by domestic fowls.
Section 52-562. - Liability for fraud in contracting debt; concealing property.
Section 52-563. - Liability for waste by tenant for life or years.
Section 52-564. - Treble damages for theft.
Section 52-564a. - Liability for shoplifting.
Section 52-565. - Double damages for forgery.
Section 52-566. - Treble damages for wilful removal or destruction of bridge.
Section 52-567. - Treble damages for injury to milestone, guidepost or railing.
Section 52-568. - Damages for groundless or vexatious suit or defense.
Section 52-569. - Damages for leaving open bars, gate or fence.
Section 52-570. - Action for malicious erection of structure.
Section 52-570a. (Formerly Sec. 52-202). - Action against fiduciary.
Section 52-570b. - Action for computer-related offenses.
Section 52-570d. - Action for illegal recording of private telephonic communications.
Section 52-571a. - Action for deprivation of equal rights and privileges.
Section 52-571c. - Action for damages resulting from intimidation based on bigotry or bias.
Section 52-571e. - Action for damages resulting from actions of agent of surety on a bond.
Section 52-571f. - Strict liability of person who illegally transfers a firearm.
Section 52-571g. - Strict liability of person who fails to securely store a firearm.
Section 52-571h. - Action for damages resulting from identity theft.
Section 52-571i. - Action for damages resulting from trafficking in persons.
Section 52-572. - Parental liability for torts of minors.
Section 52-572a. - Release by injured person voidable if obtained within fifteen days.
Section 52-572b. - Alienation of affections and breach of promise actions abolished.
Section 52-572c. - Parent-child immunity abrogated in certain negligence actions.
Section 52-572e. - Release of joint tortfeasor.
Section 52-572f. - Criminal conversation action abolished.
Section 52-572i. - Application of the family car doctrine.
Section 52-572j. - Derivative actions by shareholders or members.
Section 52-572k. - Hold harmless clause against public policy in certain construction contracts.
Section 52-572m. - Product liability actions. Definitions.
Section 52-572n. - Product liability claims.
Section 52-572o. - Comparative responsibility. Award of damages. Action for contribution.
Section 52-572p. - Limitation of liability of product seller.
Section 52-572q. - Liability of product seller due to lack of adequate warnings or instructions.
Section 52-572r. - Product liability claims against third parties.