Ark. Code Ann. § 5-37-407 (2020)
Additional civil remedies
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- In addition to any other provision of this subchapter, any person aggrieved by a violation of this subchapter may bring a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction.
- As used in this section, “any person aggrieved” includes any communication service provider.
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The court may:
- Award declaratory relief and any other equitable remedy, including a preliminary or final injunction to prevent or restrain a violation of this subchapter, without requiring proof that the plaintiff has suffered or will suffer actual damages or irreparable harm or lacks an adequate remedy at law;
- At any time while an action is pending, order the impounding, on such terms as it deems reasonable, of any communication device or unlawful access device that is in the custody or control of the violator and that the court has reasonable cause to believe was involved in the alleged violation of this subchapter;
- Award damages as described in subsection (c) of this section;
- In the court's discretion, award reasonable attorney fees, costs, and expenses to an aggrieved party who prevails; and
- As part of a final judgment or decree finding a violation of this subchapter, order the remedial modification or destruction of any communication device or unlawful access device or any other device or equipment involved in the violation that is in the custody or control of the violator or has been impounded under subdivision (b)(2) of this section.
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Damages awarded by a court under this subchapter shall be computed as either of the following:
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- Upon his or her election of damages at any time before final judgment is entered, the complaining party may recover the actual damages suffered by him or her as a result of the violation of this subchapter and any profits of the violator that are attributable to the violation.
- Actual damages include the retail value of any communication service illegally available to a person to whom the violator directly or indirectly provided or distributed any communication device or unlawful access devices.
- In proving actual damages, the complaining party shall prove only that the violator manufactured, distributed, or sold any communication device or unlawful access devices.
- In determining the violator's profits, the complaining party shall prove only the violator's gross revenue and the violator shall prove his or her deductible expenses; or
- Upon election by the complaining party at any time before final judgment is entered, that party may recover in lieu of actual damages, an award of statutory damages of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each communication device or unlawful access device involved in the action, with the amount of statutory damages to be determined by the court, as the court considers just.
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- In any case in which the court finds that any violation of this subchapter was committed willfully and for a purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, the court in its discretion may increase the total award of any damages under subsection (c) of this section by an amount of not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for each communication device or unlawful access device involved in the action or for each day the defendant was in violation of this subchapter.
History. Acts 2003, No. 1806, § 6; 2007, No. 827, § 41.
Subchapter 5 — Business and Commercial Offenses Generally
Cross References. Fines, § 5-4-201.
Selling diseased animals, penalty, § 5-62-116.
Term of imprisonment, § 5-4-401.
Theft of property by deception, § 5-36-103.
Effective Dates. Acts 1887, No. 134, § 2: effective on passage.
Acts 1937, No. 11, § 4: Feb. 2, 1937.
Acts 1953, No. 157, § 4: approved Feb. 26, 1953. Emergency clause provided: “The General Assembly finds and declares that with the large number of tractors, trailers and other farm implements now in use, it is essential in order to pass title and to effectively impose liens upon such articles that they be identified by the serial or other number or mark used by the manufacturer; that there is an increasing trend toward the removal and alteration of such numbers and marks, for the fraudulent purpose of facilitating the disposition of stolen articles and an emergency is therefore found to exist whereby for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, it is necessary that this Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage.”
Acts 1959, No. 240, § 3: Mar. 25, 1959. Emergency clause provided: “Whereas, many persons in this State sell or offer for sale strawberries packaged in such a manner as to misrepresent the true characteristics of the strawberries so packaged; that such misrepresentation is working serious injury to the strawberry industry of this State; and that only by the immediate passage of this Act may such situation be corrected. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act, being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.”
Acts 1963, No. 251, § 4: Mar. 18, 1963. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and determined by the General Assembly that the removal or defacing of the serial or code number on containers of tobacco products hinders the collection of the tax thereon and makes it difficult to trace stolen products and that this Act is immediately necessary to correct this situation. Therefore an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act being necessary for the preservation of public peace, health and safety shall be in effect from the date of its passage and approval.”
Acts 1989, No. 303, § 4: Mar. 2, 1989. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and determined by the General Assembly that the present laws of this state are not sufficient to protect materialmen and the public from contractors who knowingly and willfully fail to pay a supplier or subcontractor for materials or goods furnished to a project; that this act establishes criminal penalties for such conduct; and that this act should become effective immediately to protect materialmen and the public in general. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.”