Pennsylvania § 6909 - Lessor's liability for noncompliance.

§ 6909. Lessor's liability for noncompliance.

(a) Violation of other law.--A violation of this chapter shall constitute a violation of the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions and private rights of action contained in that act, except as limited in this section.

(b) Recovery in class action limited.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, in any class action brought for violation of this chapter, the total recovery arising out of the same failure to comply shall not be more than the lesser of $500,000 or an amount equal to 1% of the net worth of the lessor.

(c) Recovery of damages.--If a particular rental-purchase agreement has more than one lessee, only one recovery of damages is allowed for a violation of this chapter. Multiple violations in connection with a single rental-purchase agreement entitle the lessee or multiple lessees to only one recovery under this chapter.

(d) Commencement of class action.--A class action alleging a violation of this chapter may not be brought more than two years after the occurrence of the violation that is the subject of the suit or more than two years after the lessee made the last rental payment, whichever is later. This subsection does not bar a lessee from asserting a violation of this chapter as a matter of defense by recoupment or setoff in an action brought by a lessor more than two years after the date of the occurrence of the violation on an obligation arising from the rental-purchase agreement.

(e) Counteraction or defense.--A lessee may not take any action to offset any amount for which a lessor is potentially liable under the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law against any amount owed by the lessee unless the amount of the liability of the lessor has been determined by a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction in an action in which the lessor was a party. This subsection does not bar a lessee in default on an obligation arising from the rental-purchase agreement from asserting a violation of this chapter in an original action or as a defense or counterclaim to an action brought by the lessor to collect amounts owed by the lessee under the rental-purchase agreement.

Cross References. Section 6909 is referred to in section 6910 of this title.