Tennessee § 45-2-1720 - False advertising.

§ 45-2-1720. False advertising.

It is unlawful for any entity to make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated or placed before the public, in a newspaper, magazine or other publication, or in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter or poster or over the internet or any radio or television, or in any other way, an advertisement, announcement or statement containing any assertion, representation, or statement with respect to the sale, distribution, offering for sale or advertising of any loan, refinance, insurance or any other product or service that is untrue, deceptive, misleading, or that uses the name or logo of any other lender without the express written consent of the lender whose name is used. For purposes of this section, “lender” means any bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, trust company, credit union, industrial loan and thrift company, mortgage company, mortgage broker, or any subsidiary or affiliate therof. Each solicitation to an individual in violation of this section shall be considered a separate act. The commissioner of financial institutions, the commissioner of commerce and insurance, and the attorney general and reporter are entitled to enforce this section against any regulated entity within their jurisdiction or against any other person. The commissioners shall have authority to issue a cease and desist order and to impose a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation. Any lender whose name or logo is used in violation of this section is entitled to sue for damages, which shall include any actual damages, statutory penalties of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation, and court costs and attorney's fees. Acts 2006, ch. 801, § 11.