482.36423 - Action for injunctive relief or civil damages; service of process; time to answer or plead.

482.36423  Action for injunctive relief or civil damages; service of process; time to answer or plead.

      1.  Whenever it appears that a person has violated, is violating or is threatening to violate any provision of NRS 482.36311 to 482.36425, inclusive, any person aggrieved thereby may apply to the district court in the county where the defendant resides, or in the county where the violation or threat of violation occurs, for injunctive relief to restrain the person from continuing the violation or threat of violation.

      2.  In addition to any other judicial relief, any dealer or person who assumes the operation of a franchise pursuant to NRS 482.36396 to 482.36414, inclusive, who is injured in his or her business or property by reason of a violation of NRS 482.36311 to 482.36425, inclusive, may bring an action in the district court in which the dealership is located, and may recover three times the pecuniary loss sustained by the dealer or person, and the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee. The amount of pecuniary loss sustained by a dealer, pursuant to subsection 7 of NRS 482.3638, is the fair market value of the franchised dealership at the time of notification of termination, refusal to continue or unilateral modification of a franchise.

      3.  Any artificial person created and existing under the laws of any other state, territory, foreign government or the government of the United States, or any person residing outside the State, who grants a franchise to any dealer in this State may be served with any legal process in any action for injunctive relief or civil damages in the following manner:

      (a) By delivering a copy of the process to the Director; and

      (b) By mailing to the last known address of the manufacturer or distributor, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint, together with copies of any petition or order for injunctive relief.

      4.  The defendant has 30 days, exclusive of the day of service, within which to answer or plead.

      5.  The method of service provided in this section is cumulative and may be utilized with, after or independently of all other methods of service.

      (Added to NRS by 1977, 557; A 1985, 1834; 1989, 209; 1999, 2514; 2003, 20th Special Session, 306; 2005, 1149)