Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 45.50.531 (2026)
Private and class actions
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 45.50.531. Private and class actions.
(a) A person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of another person's act or practice declared unlawful by AS 45.50.471 may bring a civil action to recover for each unlawful act or practice three times the actual damages or $500, whichever is greater. The court may provide other relief it considers necessary and proper. Nothing in this subsection prevents a person who brings an action under this subsection from pursuing other remedies available under other law, including common law.
(b) [Repealed, § 4 ch 31 SLA 1987.]
(c) Upon commencement of an action brought under this section the clerk of the court shall mail a copy of the complaint or other initial pleading to the attorney general and, upon entry of an order or judgment in the action, shall mail a copy of the order or judgment to the attorney general.
(d) [Repealed, § 4 ch 31 SLA 1987.]
(e) A permanent injunction or final judgment against a person against whom an action was initiated under AS 45.50.501 is prima facie evidence in an action brought under this section that the person used or employed an act or practice declared unlawful by AS 45.50.471.
(f) A person may not commence an action under this section more than two years after the person discovers or reasonably should have discovered that the loss resulted from an act or practice declared unlawful by AS 45.50.471.
(g) [Repealed, § 6 ch 96 SLA 1998.]
(h) If the basis for the action is the fault of the manufacturer or supplier of the merchandise, the manufacturer or supplier who is at fault is liable for the damages awarded against the retailer under this section.
(i) If a person receives an award of punitive damages under (a) of this section, the court shall require that 50 percent of the award be deposited into the general fund of the state under AS 09.17.020(j). This subsection does not grant the state the right to file or join a civil action to recover punitive damages.
(a) A person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of another person's act or practice declared unlawful by AS 45.50.471 may bring a civil action to recover for each unlawful act or practice three times the actual damages or $500, whichever is greater. The court may provide other relief it considers necessary and proper. Nothing in this subsection prevents a person who brings an action under this subsection from pursuing other remedies available under other law, including common law.
(b) [Repealed, § 4 ch 31 SLA 1987.]
(c) Upon commencement of an action brought under this section the clerk of the court shall mail a copy of the complaint or other initial pleading to the attorney general and, upon entry of an order or judgment in the action, shall mail a copy of the order or judgment to the attorney general.
(d) [Repealed, § 4 ch 31 SLA 1987.]
(e) A permanent injunction or final judgment against a person against whom an action was initiated under AS 45.50.501 is prima facie evidence in an action brought under this section that the person used or employed an act or practice declared unlawful by AS 45.50.471.
(f) A person may not commence an action under this section more than two years after the person discovers or reasonably should have discovered that the loss resulted from an act or practice declared unlawful by AS 45.50.471.
(g) [Repealed, § 6 ch 96 SLA 1998.]
(h) If the basis for the action is the fault of the manufacturer or supplier of the merchandise, the manufacturer or supplier who is at fault is liable for the damages awarded against the retailer under this section.
(i) If a person receives an award of punitive damages under (a) of this section, the court shall require that 50 percent of the award be deposited into the general fund of the state under AS 09.17.020(j). This subsection does not grant the state the right to file or join a civil action to recover punitive damages.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 65
cases (18 in the last 5 years), 1980–2026 · leading case: Kenai Chrysler Ctr., Inc. v. Denison, 167 P.3d 1240 (Alaska 2007).
Kenai Chrysler Ctr., Inc. v. Denison, 167 P.3d 1240 (Alaska 2007). “The UTPA's treble damages provision, AS 45.50.531(a), states that "[a] person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of another person's act or practice .”
City of Fairbanks v. Amoco Chem. Co., 952 P.2d 1173 (Alaska 1998). “), is the claim governed by the two-year statute of limitations set forth in the Act (AS 45.50.531(f)) or by the six-year statute of limitations governing claims by municipal corporations (AS 09.”
Garrison v. Dixon, 19 P.3d 1229 (Alaska 2001). “In 1998 the legislature superceded former AS 45.50.531(¢g) with AS 45.50.537. Neither party argues that the new section .”
Jones v. Westbrook, 379 P.3d 963 (Alaska 2016). “AS 45.50.531(8. 36 , Weimer v. Cont'l Car & Truck, LLC, 237 P.”
Odom v. Fairbanks Mem'l Hosp., 999 P.2d 123 (Alaska 2000). “[10] Odom, as a private litigant, sued for violation *132 of the Unfair Trade Practices Act pursuant to former AS 45.50.531. [11] "Two elements must be proved to establish a prima facie case of unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Alaska Act: (1) that the defendant is…”
State v. O'Neill Investigations, Inc., 609 P.2d 520 (Alaska 1980). “AS 45.50.531(a) and (b). In a suit for injunctive relief brought by the Attorney General, a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 may be recovered for each unlawful act or practice.”
Asrc Energy Servs. Power v. Golden Valley Elec. Ass'n, 267 P.3d 1151 (Alaska 2011). “The trial court ordered that GVEA's damages "be trebled in the final judgment according to AS 45.50.531(a) 17 declared GVEA the prevailing party for purposes of awarding costs and attorney's fees, and entered final judgment.”
State v. First Nat'l Bank of Anchorage, 660 P.2d 406 (Alaska 1982). “Moreover, AS 45.50.531(a) grants a private right of action only to "[a] person who purchases or leases goods or services and thereby suffers an ascertainable loss .”
Smallwood v. Cent. Peninsula Gen. Hosp., 151 P.3d 319 (Alaska 2006). “The hospital argues here, as it did below, that Smallwood’s UTPA claim is time-barred by AS 45.50.531(f). The superior court did not address the statute of limitations issue.”
Merdes & Merdes, P.C. v. Leisnoi, Inc., 410 P.3d 398 (Alaska 2017). “See AS 45.50.531(a) (allowing damages for unlawful trade practices of "three times the actual damages or $500, whichever is greater").”
In re Generic Pharm. Pricing Antitrust Litig., 368 F. Supp. 3d 814 (E.D. Pa. 2019). “Alaska Stat. Ann. § 45.50.531 (a) ("A person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of another person's act or practice declared unlawful by [Ak.”
In re Pharm. Indus. Average Wholesale Price Litig., 230 F.R.D. 61 (D. Mass. 2005). “Code § 8 — 19 — 10(f); Alaska Stat. § 45.50.531 (b) (repealed provision that had allowed class actions); Ga.”
— Alaska Stat. § 45.50.531(a) — 34 cases
Kenai Chrysler Ctr., Inc. v. Denison, 167 P.3d 1240 (Alaska 2007). “The UTPA's treble damages provision, AS 45.50.531(a), states that "[a] person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of another person's act or practice .”
State v. O'Neill Investigations, Inc., 609 P.2d 520 (Alaska 1980). “AS 45.50.531(a) and (b). In a suit for injunctive relief brought by the Attorney General, a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 may be recovered for each unlawful act or practice.”
Jones v. Westbrook, 379 P.3d 963 (Alaska 2016). “AS 45.50.531(8. 36 , Weimer v. Cont'l Car & Truck, LLC, 237 P.”
Asrc Energy Servs. Power v. Golden Valley Elec. Ass'n, 267 P.3d 1151 (Alaska 2011). “The trial court ordered that GVEA's damages "be trebled in the final judgment according to AS 45.50.531(a) 17 declared GVEA the prevailing party for purposes of awarding costs and attorney's fees, and entered final judgment.”
State v. First Nat'l Bank of Anchorage, 660 P.2d 406 (Alaska 1982). “Moreover, AS 45.50.531(a) grants a private right of action only to "[a] person who purchases or leases goods or services and thereby suffers an ascertainable loss .”
— Alaska Stat. § 45.50.531(b) — 1 case
Deadwyler v. Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 134 F.R.D. 128 (W.D.N.C. 1991).
— Alaska Stat. § 45.50.531(f) — 5 cases
City of Fairbanks v. Amoco Chem. Co., 952 P.2d 1173 (Alaska 1998). “), is the claim governed by the two-year statute of limitations set forth in the Act (AS 45.50.531(f)) or by the six-year statute of limitations governing claims by municipal corporations (AS 09.”
Smallwood v. Cent. Peninsula Gen. Hosp., 151 P.3d 319 (Alaska 2006). “The hospital argues here, as it did below, that Smallwood’s UTPA claim is time-barred by AS 45.50.531(f). The superior court did not address the statute of limitations issue.”
Baker v. Duffus, 441 P.3d 432 (Alaska 2019).
Weimer v. Cont'l Car & Truck, LLC, 237 P.3d 610 (Alaska 2010).
Faulk v. JELD-WEN, Inc. (D. Alaska 2024).
— Alaska Stat. § 45.50.531(g) — 1 case
Garrison v. Dixon, 19 P.3d 1229 (Alaska 2001). “In 1998 the legislature superceded former AS 45.50.531(¢g) with AS 45.50.537. Neither party argues that the new section .”
— Alaska Stat. § 45.50.531(i) — 1 case
Kenai Chrysler Ctr., Inc. v. Denison, 167 P.3d 1240 (Alaska 2007). “The UTPA's treble damages provision, AS 45.50.531(a), states that "[a] person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of another person's act or practice .”
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