Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2478%20intr.htm&yr=2020&sesstype=RS&i=2478
Timestamp: 2020-07-16 01:16:37
Document Index: 433098116

Matched Legal Cases: ['§47', '§47', '§47', '§47', '§47', '§47', '§47']

HB 2478 Text
Introduced Version House Bill 2478 History
House Bill 2478
By Delegate Steele, Pack, Lovejoy, Mandt and Rohrbach
[Introduced January 17, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §47-11A-6 and §47-11A-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all related to costs and damages under the Fair Trade Practices Act.
(a) The term “cost” when applicable to the business of retailer shall mean bona fide cost and shall mean: (i) The invoice cost of the product or item of merchandise to the retailer to include applicable taxes, or the replacement cost thereof to the retailer within 30 days prior to the date of sale, offer for sale or advertisement for sale, as the case may be, in the quantity last purchased, whichever is lower, from either of which there shall be deducted all trade discounts, except customary discounts for cash; and (ii) to either of which there shall be added the following items of expense:
(b) The term “cost” when applicable to the business of a wholesaler shall mean bona fide cost and shall mean: (i) The invoice cost of the merchandise to the wholesaler to include applicable taxes, or the replacement cost of the merchandise to the wholesaler within 30 days prior to the date of sale, offer for sale or advertisement for sale, as the case may be, in the quantity last purchased, whichever is lower, from either of which there shall be deducted all trade discounts except customary discounts for cash; and (ii) to either of which there shall be added the following items of expense:
(a) Any person, partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity injured by a violation of the provisions of this article may maintain an action to enjoin a continuance of any such violation in the circuit court of the county wherein said violation is alleged to have occurred. If a violation is established in such an action, the court shall enjoin, restrain or otherwise prohibit such violation. In such action, if damages are alleged and proven, the plaintiff in the action, in addition to injunctive relief, shall recover from the defendant the actual damages sustained and proven to be a result of the violation. Upon a finding by the court of bad faith on the part of the violator, the court may award the plaintiff treble damages, court costs, litigation costs, and attorneys’ fees.
(b) In the event no injunctive relief is sought or required, any person, partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity injured by a violation of the provisions of this article may maintain an action for damages alone in the circuit court of the county wherein said violation is alleged to have occurred. If a violation is established in such an action and proven, a plaintiff shall recover from the defendant the actual damages sustained and proven to be a result of the violation. Upon a finding by the court of bad faith on the part of the violator, the court may award the plaintiff treble damages, court costs, litigation costs, and attorneys’ fees.
(c) In any action under §47-11A-9(a) or §47-11A-9(b) of this code it shall be an absolute defense that the sale price of any product or item of merchandise alleged to be in violation of this article is equal to or greater than the sales price of the same product or item being sold by a competitor of the defendant.
(d) A court may dismiss any action under §47-11A-9 (a) or §47-11A-9(b) of this code upon a motion for summary judgment if the court finds pursuant to Rule 56 of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure that the provisions of §47-11A-9(c) of this code have been satisfied.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to modify the Fair Trade Practices Act with regard to costs and damages.