Montana Code Annotated
Part 1. Consumer Protection Act
30-14-144. Additional penalty for unfair or deceptive act committed against older person or developmentally disabled person

30-14-144. Additional penalty for unfair or deceptive act committed against older person or developmentally disabled person. (1) In addition to any civil penalty imposed pursuant to 30-14-142, a person who engages in a practice unlawful under 30-14-103 and whose conduct is perpetrated against an older person or against a developmentally disabled person is liable for an additional civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation if the court finds that:
(a) the person knew or should have known that the person's conduct was directed toward one or more older or developmentally disabled persons; or
(b) the person's conduct caused an older or developmentally disabled person to suffer one of the following:
(i) loss or encumbrance of a primary residence;
(ii) loss of principal employment or other source of income;
(iii) substantial loss of property set aside for retirement or for personal or family care and maintenance;
(iv) substantial loss of payments received under a pension or retirement plan or a government benefits program; or
(v) loss of assets essential to the health or welfare of the older or disabled person.
(2) Damages awarded in an action under 30-14-133 must be given priority over imposition of civil penalties ordered by the court under this section.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "developmentally disabled person" means a person with a developmental disability as defined in 53-20-102; and
(b) "older person" has the meaning provided in 52-3-803.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 2013.

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