reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-5.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-5.1 - Power of receiver.

§ 6-13.1-5.1. Power of receiver.When a receiver is appointed by the court pursuant to this chapter, he or she shall have the power to sue for, collect, receive, and take into his or her possession all the goods and chattels, rights and credits, moneys and effects, lands and tenements, books, records, documents, papers, choses in action, bills, notes, and property of every description derived by means of any practice declared to be illegal and prohibited by this chapter, including property with which the property has been mingled if it cannot be identified in kind because of the commingling, and to sell, convey, and assign the property and hold and dispose of the proceeds under the direction of the court. Any person who has suffered damages as a result of the use of or employment of any unlawful practices and submits proof to the satisfaction of the court that he or she has in fact been damaged, may participate with general creditors in the distribution of the assets to the extent he or she has sustained out-of-pocket losses. In the case of a partnership or business entity, the receiver shall settle the estate and distribute the assets under the direction of the court. The court shall have jurisdiction of all questions arising in the proceedings and may make any orders and judgments therein as may be required.History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 249, § 3.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-5.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-5.2 - Private and class actions.

§ 6-13.1-5.2. Private and class actions.(a) Any person who purchases or leases goods or services primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and thereby suffers any ascertainable loss of money or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or employment by another person of a method, act, or practice declared unlawful by § 6-13.1-2, may bring an action under the rules of civil procedure in the superior court of the county in which the seller or lessor resides; is found; has his or her principal place of business or is doing business; or in the superior court of the county as is otherwise provided by law, to recover actual damages or five hundred dollars ($500), whichever is greater. The court may award damages equal to three (3) times the amount of actual damages and, in its discretion, provide other equitable relief that it deems necessary or proper.(b) Persons entitled to bring an action under subsection (a) of this section may, if the unlawful method, act, or practice has caused similar injury to numerous other persons similarly situated and if they adequately represent the similarly situated persons, bring an action on behalf of themselves and other similarly injured and situated persons to recover damages as provided for in subsection (a) of this section. In any action brought under this section, the court may in its discretion order, in addition to damages, injunctive or other equitable relief.(c) Upon commencement of any action brought under subsection (a) of this section, the clerk of court shall mail a copy of the complaint or other initial pleading to the attorney general and, upon entry of any judgment or decree in the action, shall mail a copy of the judgment or decree to the attorney general.(d) In any action brought by a person under this section, the court may award, in addition to the relief provided in this section, reasonable attorney's fees and costs.(e) Any permanent injunction, judgment, or order of the court made under § 6-13.1-5 shall be prima facie evidence in an action brought under this section that the respondent used or employed a method, act, or practice declared unlawful by § 6-13.1-2.History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 249, § 3; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10; P.L. 2021, ch. 206, § 1, effective July 7, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 329, § 1, effective July 9, 2021.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-6 - Assurances of voluntary compliance.

§ 6-13.1-6. Assurances of voluntary compliance.In the administration of this chapter, the attorney general may accept an assurance of voluntary compliance with respect to any method, act, or practice deemed to be a violation of the chapter from any person who has engaged or was about to engage in any method, act, or practice. Any assurance shall be in writing and filed with and subject to the approval of the superior court of the county in which the alleged violator shall dwell or have his or her principal place of business, or the superior court of Providence County. The assurance of voluntary compliance shall not be considered an admission of a violation for any purpose. Matters thus closed may be reopened at any time by the attorney general for further proceedings in the public interest pursuant to § 6-13.1-5.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-8 - Civil penalties.

§ 6-13.1-8. Civil penalties.Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall forfeit and pay to the state a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation. The attorney general, acting in the name of the state, may petition for recovery of civil penalties.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 206, § 1, effective July 7, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 329, § 1, effective July 9, 2021.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-9 - Forfeiture of corporate franchise.

§ 6-13.1-9. Forfeiture of corporate franchise.Upon petition by the attorney general, the superior court may, in its discretion, order the dissolution or suspension or forfeiture of franchise of any corporation that violates the terms of an injunction issued under § 6-13.1-5.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-10 - Severability.

§ 6-13.1-10. Severability.If any provision of this chapter is declared unconstitutional, or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of the chapter and its applicability to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-11 - Short title.

§ 6-13.1-11. Short title.This chapter shall be known and designated as the "Unfair Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Act."History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-12 - Appliances - Providing parts and manuals.

§ 6-13.1-12. Appliances — Providing parts and manuals.No person who manufactures or distributes parts for electric and/or gas appliances shall refuse to sell or provide the parts or to sell or provide a service manual to any person engaged in the business of servicing and repairing the appliances.History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 182, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-12.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-12.1 - Appliances - Information concerning used or rebuilt parts.

§ 6-13.1-12.1. Appliances — Information concerning used or rebuilt parts.Any person engaged in the business of servicing or repairing electric and/or gas appliances for consumers shall, prior to any servicing or repair, inform the consumer of the intention to utilize any used or rebuilt parts. The utilization of used or rebuilt parts shall be indicated on the customer's repair invoice. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall pay a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500).History of Section.P.L. 2000, ch. 370, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-13 - Price discrimination prohibited.

§ 6-13.1-13. Price discrimination prohibited.No person who manufactures or distributes parts for electric and/or gas appliances shall discriminate in the price for which it offers the appliance parts for sale to any person engaged in the business of servicing or repairing the appliances.History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 182, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-14 - Penalties.

§ 6-13.1-14. Penalties.Any person who violates the provisions of §§ 6-13.1-12 and/or 6-13.1-13 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall pay a fine of five hundred dollars ($500).History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 182, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-15 - Piracy of recordings.

§ 6-13.1-15. Piracy of recordings.(a) As used in this section, "article" means a phonograph record, disc, wire, tape, film, compact disc, audio or video cassette, compact video disc, or other device on which sounds or images are or can be recorded or otherwise stored.(b) Unless exempt under subsection (d), it is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association knowingly to:(1) Transfer or cause to be transferred any sounds recorded on any article on which sounds are recorded onto any other article;(2) Transfer or cause to be transferred any performance, whether live before an audience or transmitted by wire or through the air by radio or television, onto any article; or(3) Sell, distribute, circulate, offer for sale, distribution, or circulation, possess for the purpose of sale, distribution, or circulation, or cause to be sold, distributed, circulated, offered for sale, distribution, or circulation, or possessed for sale, distribution, or circulation, any article on which sounds or performances have been transferred without the consent of the person who owns the master article from which the sounds are derived or the right to record the performance.(c) It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association to sell, distribute, circulate, offer for sale, distribution, or circulation or possess for the purposes of sale, distribution, or circulation, any article on which sounds or images have been transferred unless the article bears the actual name and address of the transferor of the sounds in a prominent place on its outside face or package.(d) This section does not apply to any person who transfers or causes to be transferred any sounds or images intended for, or in connection with, radio or television broadcast transmission or related uses for archival purposes or solely for the personal use of the person transferring or causing the transfer and without any compensation being derived by the person from the transfer.(e) Every person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and:(1) For the first offense is punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than six (6) years, or by both fine and imprisonment.(2) For a subsequent offense is punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten (10) years, or by both fine and imprisonment.(3) The court in its judgment of conviction may order the forfeiture and destruction or other disposition of all infringing articles and all implements, devices, and equipment used in the manufacture of the infringing articles.History of Section.P.L. 1976, ch. 257, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 387, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-16 - Disclosure of service contract agreements.

§ 6-13.1-16. Disclosure of service contract agreements.(a) It shall be a deceptive trade practice in violation of this chapter for any service contractor to fail to disclose to any person who is a prospective customer, at the time that the person makes initial contact by any means with the service contractor, that a service call made by the service contractor to the home or business of the prospective customer will require the payment by the prospective customer of separate and distinct fees for the following:(1) Service charge — the fee charged by the service contractor to respond to the request for service.(2) Labor charge.(b) As used in this section:(1) "Service contractor" means a person engaged in the business of repairing, overhauling, adjusting, assembling, or disassembling consumer goods.(2) "Person" means a natural person, corporation, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, and any other legal entity.History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 134, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-17 - Contracts - Provision to sell real estate.

§ 6-13.1-17. Contracts — Provision to sell real estate.It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association to provide in any contract for the purchase of consumer goods or documents related to them a provision allowing the seller the power to sell or attach real estate for default without first obtaining an order by a court exercising proper jurisdiction of the subject matter.History of Section.P.L. 1982, ch. 280, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-18 - Manufacturers' duties under motor vehicle warranties.

§ 6-13.1-18. Manufacturers' duties under motor vehicle warranties.Failure by a motor vehicle manufacturer, as defined in § 31-5.2-1, to comply with the provisions of chapter 5.2 of title 31 entitled "Consumer Enforcement of Motor Vehicle Warranties" shall constitute a deceptive trade practice under the terms of this chapter. All of the public and private remedies provided for in this chapter shall be available to enforce the provisions of chapter 5.2 of title 31.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 353, § 2; P.L. 1984, ch. 361, § 2.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-19 - Motor vehicle dealer's duty when selling used vehicle.

§ 6-13.1-19. Motor vehicle dealer's duty when selling used vehicle.Failure of a motor vehicle dealer to comply with the provisions of chapter 5.3 of title 31 shall constitute a deceptive trade practice under the terms of this chapter. All of the public and private remedies provided for in this chapter shall be available to enforce the provisions of chapter 5.3 of title 31.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 478, § 2.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-20 - Credit reports - Definitions.

§ 6-13.1-20. Credit reports — Definitions.As used in this chapter:(1) "Credit bureau" means any entity or person who or that, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing credit reports to third parties;(2) (i) "Credit report" means any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a credit bureau bearing on a consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, or credit capacity, that is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer's eligibility for:(A) Credit or insurance to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes;(B) Employment purposes; or(C) Other purposes authorized under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.(ii) "Credit report" does not include:(A) Any report containing information solely as to transactions or experiences between the consumer and the person making the report;(B) Any authorization or approval of a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly by the issuer of a credit card or similar device;(C) Any report in which a person who has been requested by a third party to make a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly to a consumer conveys his or her decision with respect to that request if the third party advises the consumer of the name and address of the person to whom the request was made and the person makes the disclosures to the consumer required under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.; or(D) Any report containing information solely on a consumer's character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living that is obtained through personal interviews with neighbors, friends, or associates of the consumer reported on, or with others with whom he or she is acquainted or who may have knowledge concerning those items of information, only if the report is not used in granting, extending, or decreasing credit.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 430, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 265, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-21 - Credit reports - Notice to individual - Requirements of users of credit reports.

§ 6-13.1-21. Credit reports — Notice to individual — Requirements of users of credit reports.(a) No person or business shall request a credit report in connection with a consumer's application for credit, employment, or insurance unless a consumer is first informed that a credit report may be requested in connection with the application.(b) Whenever credit or insurance for personal, family, household purposes, or employment involving a consumer is denied or the charge for that credit or insurance is increased either wholly or partly because of information contained in a credit report from a credit bureau, the user of the credit report shall advise the consumer against whom the adverse action has been taken and supply the name and address of the credit bureau making the report.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 430, § 1; P. L. 1994, ch. 265, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-22 - Access to credit reports.

§ 6-13.1-22. Access to credit reports.Any consumer who requests disclosure of his or her credit file from a credit bureau shall be entitled to have mailed to the consumer a copy of the information in the files of the credit bureau that pertains to the consumer at the time of the consumer's request for disclosure within four (4) working days of the request. The credit bureau may impose a reasonable charge for the report, but that charge shall not exceed eight dollars ($8.00) per report. The maximum charge for the report may be raised annually not to exceed the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The copy shall be furnished without charge if the request for a copy of the report is the result of a consumer being notified that adverse action has been taken on a credit application based on the credit report, provided the request for the report is made within sixty (60) days of receipt of the notice.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 430, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-23 - Disputed credit report.

§ 6-13.1-23. Disputed credit report.(a) If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer's file is disputed by that consumer, and the dispute is directly conveyed to the credit bureau by the consumer, the credit bureau shall within thirty (30) calendar days reinvestigate the current status of that information unless it has reasonable grounds to believe that the dispute by the consumer is frivolous or irrelevant. If after the reinvestigation that information is found to be inaccurate or can no longer be verified, the credit bureau shall promptly delete that information. The presence of contradictory information in the consumer's file does not in and of itself constitute reasonable grounds for believing the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant.(b) If the reinvestigation does not resolve the dispute, the consumer may file a brief statement stating the nature of the dispute. The credit bureau may limit statements of dispute to not more than one hundred (100) words if it provides the consumer with assistance in writing a clear summary of the dispute.(c) Whenever a statement of dispute is filed, unless there is reasonable grounds to believe that it is frivolous or irrelevant, the credit bureau shall, in any subsequent consumer report containing the information in question, clearly note that it is disputed by the consumer and provide either the consumer's statement or a clear and accurate codification or summary of that statement.(d) Following any deletion or correction of information that is found to be inaccurate or whose accuracy can no longer be verified or any notation as to disputed information, the credit bureau shall properly furnish a copy of the corrected credit report to the consumer at no charge, and at the request of the consumer, furnish a copy of the corrected report to any person specifically designated by the consumer who has within two (2) years prior thereto received a credit report for employment purposes, or within six (6) months received a credit report for any other purpose, that contained the deleted, corrected, or disputed information. The credit bureau shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to the consumer his rights to make that request. The disclosure shall be made at or prior to the time the information is deleted or the consumer's statement regarding the disputed information is received.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 430, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-24 - Registration with secretary of state.

§ 6-13.1-24. Registration with secretary of state.Any credit bureau doing business in this state shall immediately register in the office of the secretary of state and shall state its corporate or company name; agent for service of process; business address; and phone number. Any credit bureau shall notify the office of secretary of state, in writing, of any change in name, agent, address, or telephone number within thirty (30) days of the change.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 430, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.