Opinion ID: 2287139
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Pa.U.T.P.C.P.L. GENERALLY

Text: The legislative intent in enacting the Pa.U.T.P.C.P.L. was to enhance the protection of the public from unfair or deceptive business practices. Gabriel v. O'Hara, 368 Pa. Super. 383, 388 & n. 6, 534 A.2d 488, 491 & n. 6 (1987). The principle enhancements of pre-existing common law protections included the codification of a list of practices designated as unfair or deceptive and therefore unlawful (73 P.S. §§ 201-2, 201-3), authorization of the Pennsylvania Attorney General to take several specific types of action to protect the citizenry from such practices (73 P.S. §§ 201-3.1 to 201-9.1), and authorizing a private cause of action by private parties for treble damages in certain circumstances (73 P.S. § 201-9.2). The central underlying intent was fraud prevention, and the act must be construed liberally to effectuate that remedial intent. See Commonwealth v. Monumental Properties, 459 Pa. 450, 329 A.2d 812, 815-17 (1974); Gabriel v. O'Hara, supra, 534 A.2d at 491; Culbreth v. Lawrence Miller, Inc., 328 Pa.Super. 374, 477 A.2d 491 (1984). In this case we are concerned with a private cause of action for treble damages under 73 P.S. § 201-9.2(a) which provides: § 201-9.2 Private 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 any person of a method, act or practice declared unlawful by section 3 of this act, may bring a private action, to recover actual damages or one hundred dollars ($100), whichever is greater. The court may, in its discretion, award up to three times the actual damages sustained, but not less than one hundred dollars ($100), and may provide such additional relief as it deems necessary or proper. (Emphasis added). A claimant under this section must not only have suffered an ascertainable loss as the result of an unfair or deceptive act, but also must be: a person, who made a purchase, primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Though the principal dispute here centers on the second and third requirements, we shall consider all three in resolving the question as to whether the trial court abused its discretion or committed an error of law in sustaining Mameco's demurrer.