(1) Except as provided in s. 934.23(5), any provider of electronic communication service, or subscriber or customer thereof, aggrieved by any violation of ss. 934.21-934.28 in which the conduct constituting the violation is engaged in with a knowing or intentional state of mind may, in a civil action, recover from the person or entity which engaged in that violation such relief as is appropriate.
(2) In a civil action under this section, appropriate relief includes:
(a) Such preliminary and other equitable or declaratory relief as is appropriate.
(b) Damages under subsection (3).
(c) A reasonable attorney’s fee and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
(3) The court may assess as damages in a civil action under this section the sum of the actual damages suffered by the plaintiff and any profits made by the violator as a result of the violation, but in no case shall a plaintiff entitled to recover be awarded less than $1,000.
(4) A good faith reliance on any of the following is a complete defense to any civil or criminal action brought under ss. 934.21-934.28:
(a) A court warrant or order, a subpoena, or a statutory authorization, including, but not limited to, a request of an investigative or law enforcement officer to preserve records or other evidence, as provided in s. 934.23(7).
(b) A request of an investigative or law enforcement officer under s. 934.09(7).
(c) A good faith determination that s. 934.03(3) permitted the conduct complained of.
(5) A civil action under this section may not be commenced later than 2 years after the date upon which the claimant first discovered or had a reasonable opportunity to discover the violation.
History.—s. 9, ch. 88-184; s. 11, ch. 89-269; s. 14, ch. 2000-369; s. 9, ch. 2002-72.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XLVII - Criminal Procedure and Corrections
Chapter 934 - Security of Communications; Surveillance
934.01 - Legislative Findings.
934.03 - Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications Prohibited.
934.05 - Confiscation of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communication Intercepting Devices.
934.06 - Prohibition of Use as Evidence of Intercepted Wire or Oral Communications; Exception.
934.07 - Authorization for Interception of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications.
934.09 - Procedure for Interception of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications.
934.21 - Unlawful Access to Stored Communications; Penalties.
934.215 - Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device.
934.22 - Voluntary Disclosure of Customer Communications or Records.
934.23 - Required Disclosure of Customer Communications or Records.
934.24 - Backup Preservation; Customer Notification; Challenges by Customer.
934.255 - Subpoenas in Investigations of Sexual Offenses.
934.27 - Civil Action: Relief; Damages; Defenses.
934.28 - Exclusivity of Remedies and Sanctions.
934.31 - General Prohibition on Pen Register and Trap and Trace Device Use; Exception.
934.32 - Application for an Order for a Pen Register or a Trap and Trace Device.
934.33 - Issuance of an Order for a Pen Register or a Trap and Trace Device.
934.34 - Assistance in Installation and Use of a Pen Register or a Trap and Trace Device.
934.42 - Mobile Tracking Device Authorization.
934.425 - Installation of Tracking Devices or Tracking Applications; Exceptions; Penalties.
934.43 - Criminal Disclosure of Subpoena, Order, or Authorization.