reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
IA Code § 551.4 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.4 - Penalty.

551.4 Penalty.   Any person, firm, company, association, or corporation violating any of the provisions of sections 551.1 and 551.2, and any officer, agent, or receiver of any firm, company, association, or corporation, or any member of the same, or any individual violating any of such provisions shall be guilty of a serious misdemeanor.  [S13, §5028-c; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §9888; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.4]  Referred to in §551.6
IA Code § 551.5 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.5 - Contracts or agreements.

551.5 Contracts or agreements.   All contracts or agreements made in violation of any of the provisions of sections 551.1 and 551.2 shall be void.  [S13, §5028-d; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §9889; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.5]  Referred to in §551.6
IA Code § 551.6 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.6 - Enforcement.

551.6 Enforcement.   It shall be the duty of the county attorneys, in their counties, and the attorney general, to enforce the provisions of sections 551.1 to 551.5, inclusive, by appropriate actions in courts of competent jurisdiction.  [S13, §5028-e; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §9890; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.6]
IA Code § 551.7 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.7 - Complaint — to whom made.

551.7 Complaint — to whom made.   If complaint shall be made to the secretary of state that any corporation authorized to do business in this state is guilty of unfair discrimination, within the terms of sections 551.1 and 551.2, it shall be the duty of the secretary of state to refer the matter to the attorney general who may, if the facts justify it in the attorney general’s judgment, institute proceedings in the courts against such corporation.  [S13, §5028-f; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §9891; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.7]
IA Code § 551.8 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.8 - Revocation of permit.

551.8 Revocation of permit.   If any corporation, foreign or domestic, authorized to do business in this state, is found guilty of unfair discrimination, within the terms of sections 551.1 and 551.2, it shall be the duty of the secretary of state to immediately revoke the permit of such corporation to do business in this state.  [S13, §5028-g; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §9892; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.8]
IA Code § 551.9 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.9 - Corporation to be enjoined.

551.9 Corporation to be enjoined.   If after revocation of its permit such corporation, or any other corporation not having a permit and found guilty of having violated any of the provisions of sections 551.1 and 551.2, shall continue or attempt to do business in this state, it shall be the duty of the attorney general, by a proper suit in the name of the state of Iowa, to enjoin such corporation from transacting all business of every kind and character in said state.  [S13, §5028-h; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §9893; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.9]
IA Code § 551.10 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.10 - Cumulative remedies.

551.10 Cumulative remedies.   Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as repealing any other Act, or part of an Act, but the remedies herein provided shall be cumulative to all other remedies provided by law.  [S13, §5028-i; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §9894; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.10]  2013 Acts, ch 30, §139
IA Code § 551.11 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551 - UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION|Section 551.11 - Exceptions.

551.11 Exceptions.   The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any contract or agreement relating to any sale made to the state, its departments, commissions, agencies, boards and its governmental subdivisions.  [C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §551.11]
IA Code § 551A.2 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.2 - Scope.

551A.2 Scope.   1. The provisions of this chapter concerning sales and offers to sell apply to persons who sell or offer to sell a business opportunity when any of the following apply:   a. An offer to sell is made in this state.   b. An offer to purchase is made and accepted in this state.   c. The purchaser is domiciled in this state and the business opportunity is or will be operated in this state.   2. For the purpose of this section, an offer to sell is made in this state, whether or not either party is then present in this state, when either of the following apply:   a. The offer originates from this state.   b. The offer is directed by the offeror to this state and received at the place to which the offer is directed or at a post office in this state in the case of a mailed offer.   3. An offer to sell is not made in this state under either of the following circumstances:   a. If the offer appears in a bona fide newspaper or other publication of general circulation which is not published in this state, or which is published in this state but has had more than two-thirds of its circulation outside this state during the past twelve months.   b. If the offer is made on a radio or television program originating outside this state which is received in this state.   4. For the purpose of this section, an offer to sell is accepted in this state when both of the following occur:   a. The acceptance is communicated to the offeror in this state.   b. The acceptance has not previously been communicated to the offeror, orally, or in writing, outside this state. For the purpose of this section the acceptance is communicated to the offeror in this state, whether or not either party is then present in this state, when the offeree directs it to the offeror in this state reasonably believing the offeror to be in this state, and the acceptance is received at the place to which it is directed or at a post office in this state in the case of a mailed acceptance.  91 Acts, ch 205, §10  CS91, §523B.13  94 Acts, ch 1031, §22; 2004 Acts, ch 1104, §29, 30  C2005, §551A.2
IA Code § 551A.4 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.4 - Exemptions from requirements — burden of proof.

551A.4 Exemptions from requirements — burden of proof.   1. The following business opportunities are exempt from the requirements of section 551A.3:   a. The offer or sale of a business opportunity if the purchaser is a bank, federally chartered savings and loan association, trust company, insurance company, credit union, or investment company as defined by the federal Investment Company Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. §80a-1 et seq., a pension or profit-sharing trust, or other financial institution or institutional buyer, or a broker-dealer registered pursuant to chapter 502, whether the purchaser is acting for itself or in a fiduciary capacity.   b. (1) An offer or sale of a business opportunity which is a franchise, provided that the seller delivers to each purchaser at the earlier of the first personal meeting between the seller and the purchaser, or fourteen days prior to the earlier of the execution by a purchaser of a contract imposing a binding legal obligation on the purchaser or the payment by a purchaser of any consideration in connection with the offer or sale of the business opportunity, one of the following disclosure documents:   (a) A uniform franchise offering circular prepared in accordance with the guidelines adopted by the North American securities administrators association, inc.   (b) A disclosure document prepared pursuant to the federal trade commission rule entitled “Disclosure requirements and prohibitions concerning franchising and business opportunity ventures”,  16 C.F.R. pt. 436   or any successor regulation.   (2) For the purposes of this paragraph “b”, a “personal meeting” means a face-to-face meeting between the purchaser and the seller or their representatives, which is held for the purpose of discussing the offer or sale of a business opportunity.   c. The offer or sale of a business opportunity for which the cash payment made by a purchaser does not exceed five hundred dollars and the payment is made for the not-for-profit sale of sales demonstration equipment, material, or samples, or the payment is made for product inventory sold to the purchaser at a bona fide wholesale price.   2. In an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding related to this chapter, the burden of proving an exemption, an exception from a definition, or an exclusion from this chapter is upon the person claiming it.  [81 Acts, ch 171, §3]  C83, §523B.3  91 Acts, ch 205, §3; 98 Acts, ch 1189, §15, 16; 99 Acts, ch 90, §2, 3; 2004 Acts, ch 1104, §21, 30  C2005, §551A.4  2005 Acts, ch 56, §2; 2012 Acts, ch 1017, §152; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §157; 2014 Acts, ch 1092, §192; 2015 Acts, ch 30, §173
IA Code § 551A.5 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.5 - Waiver of rights.

551A.5 Waiver of rights.   A waiver of this chapter by a purchaser prior to or at the time of sale is contrary to public policy and is void and unenforceable. An attempt by a seller to have a purchaser waive any rights given in this chapter is a violation of this chapter.  [81 Acts, ch 171, §9]  C83, §523B.9  2004 Acts, ch 1104, §30  C2005, §551A.5
IA Code § 551A.6 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.6 - Cancellation of contract.

551A.6 Cancellation of contract.   The purchaser has the right to cancel a contract with a seller for a business opportunity for any reason at any time within three business days of the date the purchaser signs the contract or the date the contract is accepted by the seller whichever is later. The notice of the right to cancel, the seller’s obligation to provide the purchaser with cancellation forms, and the procedures to be followed when a contract is canceled shall be the same as the procedures in chapter 555A for door-to-door sales.  [81 Acts, ch 171, §6]  C83, §523B.6  2004 Acts, ch 1104, §30  C2005, §551A.6  Referred to in §551A.3
IA Code § 551A.7 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.7 - Service of process — irrevocable consent.

551A.7 Service of process — irrevocable consent.   A seller shall file an irrevocable consent with the secretary of state. The seller shall file the irrevocable consent prior to executing a business opportunity contract or engaging in the sale of a business opportunity in this state. The irrevocable consent shall appoint the secretary of state to be the seller’s attorney to receive service of any lawful process in a noncriminal suit, action, or proceeding against the seller or the seller’s successor, executor, or administrator which arises under this chapter after the irrevocable consent has been filed. The irrevocable consent shall have the same force and validity as if the seller were served service of process personally.  2004 Acts, ch 1104, §20, 30  Referred to in §551A.3
IA Code § 551A.8 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.8 - Liability — remedies.

551A.8 Liability — remedies.   1. A person who violates the requirements for disclosure or for the contents of a business opportunity contract pursuant to section 551A.3 is liable to the purchaser in an action for rescission of the contract, or for recovery of all money or other valuable consideration paid for the business opportunity, and for actual damages together with interest as determined pursuant to section 668.13 from the date of sale, reasonable attorney fees, and court costs.   2. Every person who directly or indirectly controls a party liable under this section, every partner in a partnership so liable, every principal executive officer or director of a corporation so liable, every person occupying a similar status in, or performing similar functions for, and every employee of, a party so liable who materially aids in the act or transaction constituting the violation is also liable jointly and severally with and to the same extent as the party, unless the person liable as a result of the person’s relationship with the liable party as defined under this section proves that the person did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known of the existence of the facts giving rise to the alleged liability. Among the persons held liable, a party paying more than the party’s percentage share of damages may recover judgment for contribution upon motion to the court or in a separate action.   3. An action shall not be maintained under this section unless commenced within three years after the act or transaction constituting the violation, or within one year after the discovery of the facts constituting the violation, whichever period later expires.   4. In addition to any remedies provided by law, a person injured by a violation of this chapter may bring a civil action and recover damages or obtain other appropriate relief including injunctive or other equitable relief. If the person is the prevailing party, the person shall be awarded court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and expert fees which shall be taxed as part of the costs of the action.  [81 Acts, ch 171, §7]  C83, §523B.7  91 Acts, ch 205, §6; 98 Acts, ch 1189, §17; 2004 Acts, ch 1104, §22 – 24, 30  C2005, §551A.8  2017 Acts, ch 54, §76
IA Code § 551A.9 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.9 - Fraudulent practices.

551A.9 Fraudulent practices.   1. Misleading statements. A person shall not make or cause to be made a misleading statement in a disclosure document required pursuant to section 551A.3 or in a proceeding under this chapter. The statement shall be deemed to be misleading if any of the following apply:   a. At the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, the statement is false or misleading in a material respect.   b. An omission of a material fact is necessary in order to make the statement made, in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, not misleading.   2. Advertising. A seller shall not, in connection with the offer or sale of a business opportunity in this state, publish, circulate, or use advertising which contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.   3. Misrepresentations, omissions, and misleading conduct. A seller of a business opportunity shall not do any of the following:   a. Misrepresent, by failure to disclose or otherwise, the known required total investment for such business opportunity.   b. Misrepresent or fail to disclose efforts to sell or establish more business opportunities than it is reasonable to expect the market or market area for the particular business opportunity to sustain.   c. Misrepresent the quantity or the quality of the products to be sold or distributed through the business opportunity.   d. Misrepresent the training and management assistance available to the purchaser.   e. Misrepresent the amount of profits, net or gross, which the purchaser can expect from the operation of the business opportunity.   f. Misrepresent, by failure to disclose or otherwise, the termination, transfer, or renewal provision of a business opportunity contract.   g. Falsely claim or imply that a primary marketer or trademark of products or services sponsors or participates directly or indirectly in the business opportunity.   h. Assign a so-called exclusive territory encompassing the same area to more than one purchaser.   i. Provide vending locations for which written authorizations have not been granted by the property owners or lessees.   j. Provide merchandise, machines, or displays of a brand or kind substantially different from or inferior to those promised by the seller.   k. Fail to provide the purchaser a written contract.   l. Misrepresent the ability of a person or entity providing services to provide locations or assist the purchaser in finding locations expected to have a positive impact on the success of the business opportunity.   m. Misrepresent or omit to state a material fact or create a false or misleading impression in the sale of a business opportunity.  91 Acts, ch 205, §9  CS91, §523B.12  98 Acts, ch 1189, §20; 2004 Acts, ch 1104, §26 – 28, 30  C2005, §551A.9  2005 Acts, ch 19, §116  Referred to in §551A.10
IA Code § 551A.10 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 551A - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROMOTIONS|Section 551A.10 - Penalties.

551A.10 Penalties.   1. A seller who willfully violates the requirements for disclosure or for the contents of a business opportunity contract pursuant to section 551A.3, who provides misleading advertising as provided in section 551A.9, who willfully violates a rule under this chapter, or who willfully violates an order of which the person has notice, upon conviction, is guilty of a class “D” felony. Otherwise, a person who violates a rule adopted or order issued under this chapter is, upon conviction, guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. Each of the acts specified constitutes a separate offense and a prosecution or conviction for any one of such offenses does not bar prosecution or conviction for any other offense.   2. A violation of this chapter is an unlawful practice pursuant to section 714.16.   3. A seller who willfully uses any device or scheme to defraud a person in connection with an advertisement, offer to sell or lease, sale, or lease of a business opportunity, or who willfully violates any other provision of this chapter, except as provided in subsection 1, is, upon conviction, guilty of a fraudulent practice as provided in chapter 714.  [81 Acts, ch 171, §11]  C83, §523B.11  91 Acts, ch 205, §8; 98 Acts, ch 1189, §19; 2004 Acts, ch 1104, §25, 30  C2005, §551A.10  2013 Acts, ch 38, §1
IA Code § 552.1 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 552 - PHYSICAL EXERCISE CLUBS|Section 552.1 - Definitions.

552.1 Definitions.   As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:   1. “Contract price” means the total price paid or to be paid, including service charges or membership fees, which entitles the buyer either directly or indirectly to membership in a physical exercise club or to the use of the services or facilities of a physical exercise club.   2. “Finance charge” means “finance charge” as defined in section 537.1301, subsection 21.   3. “Physical exercise club” means a person offering services or facilities, or both, for the preservation, maintenance, encouragement, or development of physical fitness or well-being in return for the payment of a fee entitling the buyer to the use of the services or facilities. The term includes but is not limited to persons offering services and facilities known as “health clubs”, “health spas”, “sports and health clubs”, “tennis clubs”, “racquetball courts”, “golf clubs”, “gymnasiums”, “figure salons”, “health studios”, “weight control studios”, and persons operating establishments whose primary purpose is the teaching of a particular form of self-defense or martial arts, such as judo, karate, or kung fu. “Physical exercise club” does not include:   a. A person or establishment which does not charge a membership fee and from which a buyer may only purchase or become obligated to purchase the use of services or facilities to be rendered for a period of not more than thirty days, and which does not collect more than thirty days in advance for the rendering of the services.   b. Except for purposes of sections 552.4, 552.7, 552.13, 552.14, and 552.16 a nonprofit organization organized and operating as a nonprofit organization.   c. An entity primarily engaged in physical rehabilitation activities related to an individual’s injury or disease.   d. A private club owned and operated by its members.   e. Except for purposes of sections 552.4, 552.7, 552.13, and 552.14, a facility operated by the state or any of its political subdivisions.   f. A facility owned and operated on a not-for-profit basis by a person or a contractor of a person that is operated solely for the purpose of serving employees of the person, whether currently employed or retired, and family members of employees.   4. “Physical exercise club contract” means an agreement by which a buyer is entitled to membership in a physical exercise club or use of the services or facilities of a physical exercise club.   5. “Prepayment” means any partial or full payment for services or the use of facilities made before the services are actually made available by the physical exercise club or the facility is fully opened for business as described in section 552.16, subsection 3.  88 Acts, ch 1221, §1; 98 Acts, ch 1044, §1  Referred to in §552.12
IA Code § 552.2 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 552 - PHYSICAL EXERCISE CLUBS|Section 552.2 - Purpose.

552.2 Purpose.   The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard the public against fraud, deceit, and financial hardship and to foster and encourage competition, fair dealing, and prosperity in the field of physical exercise club operations and services by prohibiting or restricting practices by which the public has been injured in connection with contracts for and the marketing of physical exercise club services.  88 Acts, ch 1221, §2
IA Code § 552.3 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 552 - PHYSICAL EXERCISE CLUBS|Section 552.3 - Unenforceable contracts.

552.3 Unenforceable contracts.   A physical exercise club contract or assignment of a contract that does not comply with this chapter is unenforceable as contrary to public policy.  88 Acts, ch 1221, §3
IA Code § 552.4 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title XIII - COMMERCE|Chapter 552 - PHYSICAL EXERCISE CLUBS|Section 552.4 - Contracts for physical exercise club services — right of cancellation.

552.4 Contracts for physical exercise club services — right of cancellation.   A physical exercise club contract shall provide that the contract may be canceled within three business days after the date of receipt by the buyer of a copy of the signed contract. Cancellation shall be by written notice delivered to the seller at an address which shall be specified in the contract. Cancellation is complete upon mailing of the notice of cancellation. After receipt of the cancellation, the physical exercise club may request the return of contract forms, membership cards, and all other documents and evidence of membership previously delivered to the buyer. The buyer is entitled to a refund of the entire consideration paid for the contract, if any, less twenty dollars.   A physical exercise club contract shall in plain terms disclose whether the physical exercise club will allow the buyer to cancel the contract in the event of the death or disability of the buyer.  88 Acts, ch 1221, §4  Referred to in §552.1, 552.16