ORS 756.185
Right to recover for wrongs and omissions

  • treble damages

(1)

Any public utility which does, or causes or permits to be done, any matter, act or thing prohibited by ORS chapter 756, 757 or 758 or omits to do any act, matter or thing required to be done by such statutes, is liable to the person injured thereby in the amount of damages sustained in consequence of such violation. If the party seeking damages alleges and proves that the wrong or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the public utility is liable to the person injured thereby in treble the amount of damages sustained in consequence of the violation. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action under this section.

(2)

The court may not award attorney fees to a prevailing defendant under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section if the action under this section is maintained as a class action pursuant to ORCP 32.

(3)

Any recovery under this section does not affect recovery by the state of the penalty, forfeiture or fine prescribed for such violation.

(4)

This section does not apply with respect to the liability of any public utility for personal injury or property damage. [Formerly 757.335; 1973 c.776 §26; 1981 c.856 §1; 1981 c.897 §104a; 1987 c.447 §86; 1989 c.827 §1; 1995 c.696 §48; 1995 c.733 §63]

Source: Section 756.185 — Right to recover for wrongs and omissions; treble damages, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors756.­html.

Notes of Decisions

This section does not require that violations be wilful, wanton, or malicious. Holman Transfer Co. v. Pac. NW Bell Tel. Co., 287 Or 387, 599 P2d 1115 (1979)

Where defendant-telephone company’s erroneous directory listing did not violate “adequate service” requirement of ORS 757.020, plaintiff-physician was not entitled to treble damages under this section. Garrison v. Pacific NW Bell, 45 Or App 523, 608 P2d 1206 (1980)

756.010
Definitions
756.014
Public Utility Commission
756.016
Quorum
756.022
Oath of office
756.026
Prohibited interests of commissioner and family
756.028
Employee statements regarding prohibited interests
756.032
Employee dismissal for retention of prohibited interests or failure to file statements
756.034
Intent of prohibited interest provisions
756.036
Duties and functions
756.037
Commission authority to provide assistance, information, resources and advice to Legislative Assembly
756.040
General powers
756.045
Employing legal counsel
756.047
Authority of commission to require fingerprints
756.050
Office, office supplies and sessions of commission
756.055
Delegation of authority
756.060
Authority to adopt rules and regulations
756.062
Substantial compliance with laws adequate for commission activities
756.068
Service of notice or other legal process
756.070
Investigating management of utilities
756.075
Right of entry for examination of equipment, records or employees
756.090
Maintaining and producing records
756.105
Duty to furnish information to commission
756.115
Failure to furnish requested information
756.125
Interference with commission equipment
756.160
Enforcement of statutes and ordinances relating to utilities
756.180
Enforcing utility laws
756.185
Right to recover for wrongs and omissions
756.200
Effect of utility laws on common law and other statutory rights of action, duties and liabilities
756.305
Public Utility Commission Account
756.310
Annual fees payable by utilities and telecommunications providers
756.320
Statements accompanying fees
756.325
Distribution of information filed with commission
756.350
Penalty for failure to pay fees
756.360
Disposal and use of fees and penalties collected
756.450
Declaratory rulings
756.500
Complaint
756.512
Notice of complaint to defendant
756.515
Investigations and hearings on commission’s own motion
756.518
Procedures applicable to all matters before commission
756.521
Public hearings
756.525
Parties to proceedings
756.528
Segregation of issues
756.534
Place of hearings
756.538
Taking and use of depositions
756.543
Issuance of subpoenas
756.549
Self-incrimination of witnesses in commission proceedings
756.552
Self-incrimination of witnesses in court proceedings
756.555
Powers of commission at hearings
756.558
Taking of evidence
756.561
Rehearing
756.565
Prima facie effect of commission actions
756.568
Rescission, suspension and amendment of orders
756.572
Effect of orders on successors in interest
756.575
Notice of acceptance of terms of orders
756.610
Judicial review
756.990
Penalties
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