1. In addition to any other remedy, a consumer may bring an action against a person who commits an unlawful practice under this chapter to recover from the person all of the following:
a. The amount of any moneys or property acquired by the person from the consumer by means of an unlawful practice under this section, or two hundred dollars, whichever is greater.
b. If a court finds that the consumer prevails in the action and that the unlawful practice was an intentional violation of this chapter, five hundred dollars or twice the amount of the consumer's actual damages, whichever is greater.
c. Costs and reasonable attorney fees.
2. A cause of action under this section shall not apply unless, prior to filing the action, the consumer has submitted a complaint to the utilities board within the utilities division of the department of commerce, the utilities board has failed to resolve the complaint to the consumer's satisfaction within one hundred twenty days of the date the complaint was submitted, and the consumer dismisses the complaint before the utilities board. The requirement that a consumer complaint be submitted to the utilities board and resolved by the utilities board to the consumer's satisfaction within one hundred twenty days of filing before the consumer may file an action pursuant to this section shall not apply to an action by the attorney general to recover moneys for the consumer pursuant to section 714D.7 or any other law. A finding by the utilities board that a respondent has complied with rules governing carrier selection procedures adopted by the utilities board shall be an affirmative defense to any claim brought under this section or section 476.103 or 714D.7 that an unauthorized change in service has occurred.
99 Acts, ch 16, §7
Referred to in § 714D.7
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