What are the damages odometer fraud victims might recover?
If a person is the victim of anothers intentional violation of the Motor Vehicle Cost Information Act, the wronged person may bring a case against the wrongdoer in the Superior Court of New Jersey. If the victim wins the lawsuit, the victim can recover money damages in the amount of 3 times their actual damages or $1,500.00 plus reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, including the fees for filing the lawsuit. There are strict time limits within which the victim must file the lawsuit. Odometer fraud may also be a violation of other consumer protection statutes, such as the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. In proper cases, such as where a person proves that as a direct result of the commission of odometer fraud, they lost property or a sum of money capable of being calculated with reasonable certainty, the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act permits the consumer to recover money damages in the amount of 3 times their actual loss plus reasonable attorneys fees and certain costs.
