50-state + DC consumer-protection statutes
Statute-text comparison only; not legal advice. As of 2026-10-09. Verify against the current official code.
| Jurisdiction | Primary act | Private action | Damages | Fees | FTC clause | Official source | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | AS 45.50.471 et seq. | Yes, a person who suffers an ascertainable loss may bring a civil action | Recover three times the actual damages or $500, whichever is greater | Prevailing plaintiff shall be awarded full reasonable attorney fees; prevailing defendant awarded unless frivolous | Due consideration and great weight to FTC Act interpretations | source | yes |
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 8-19-1 et seq. | Any person who commits one or more of the acts or practices declared unlawful under this chapter and thereby causes monetary damage to a consumer... shall be liable to each consumer or other person | Any actual damages sustained by such consumer or person, or the sum of $100, whichever is greater | In the case of any successful action or counterclaim to enforce the foregoing liability or in which injunctive relief is obtained, the costs of the action or counterclaim, together with a reasonable attorney's fee | due consideration and great weight shall be given where applicable to interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts | source | yes |
| Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 4-88-101 et seq. | not captured | not captured | not captured | not captured | source | yes |
| Arizona | A.R.S. § 44-1521 et seq. | not captured | not captured | not captured | courts may use as a guide interpretations given by the federal trade commission and the federal courts to 15 United States Code sections 45, 52 and 55(a)(1) | source | yes |
| California | Cal. Civ. Code § 1750 et seq. | Any consumer who suffers any damage as a result of the use or employment by any person of a method, act, or practice declared to be unlawful by Section 1770 may bring an action against that person | Actual damages, but in no case shall the total award of damages in a class action be less than one thousand dollars ($1,000). | The court shall award court costs and attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff; reasonable attorney's fees may be awarded to a prevailing defendant upon a finding of bad faith | not captured | source | yes |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 6-1-101 et seq. | Yes, a person may bring a private civil action for deceptive trade practices, with certain exceptions for class actions and specific violations. | Actual damages sustained, including prejudgment interest, are recoverable. | Reasonable attorney fees to successful plaintiff, as determined by the court. | not captured | source | yes |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110a et seq. | Yes, any person who suffers any ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of a prohibited practice may bring an action to recover actual damages. | Recoverable by a person who suffers ascertainable loss of money or property. | The court may award to the plaintiff costs and reasonable attorneys' fees based on work reasonably performed, not on the amount of recovery. | The commissioner and the courts shall be guided by interpretations given by the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts to Section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. | source | yes |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 28-3901 et seq. | A consumer may bring an action seeking relief from the use of a trade practice in violation of a law of the District. | For a violation of § 28-3904(kk) a consumer may recover or obtain actual damages. Actual damages shall not include dignitary damages, including pain and suffering. | Reasonable attorney's fees to the consumer. | In construing the terms of this chapter, due consideration and weight shall be given to the interpretation by the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts of the term 'unfair or deceptive act or practice'. | source | yes |
| Delaware | 6 Del. C. § 2511 et seq. | Yes, a private cause of action is available to any victim of a violation of this subchapter. | Damages are recoverable to the extent of out-of-pocket losses in receivership distribution. | not captured | not captured | source | yes |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 501.201 et seq. | yes | recover actual damages | to person who suffered loss, as provided in s. 501.2105 | due consideration and great weight to FTC and federal court interpretations | source | yes |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. § 10-1-390 et seq. | limited | actual damages recoverable | reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of litigation | not captured | source | yes |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-1 et seq. | Yes - a consumer injured by an unfair or deceptive act or practice may sue for damages and injunctive relief | Damages sustained by the consumer; compensatory damages | Reasonable attorney's fees together with costs of suit awarded to prevailing plaintiff | Courts and office of consumer protection shall give due consideration to FTC rules, regulations, and decisions and federal court interpretations of FTC Act §5(a)(1) | source | yes |
| Iowa | Iowa Code ch. 714H (private actions); § 714.16 (AG) | A consumer who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as the result of a prohibited practice or act in violation of this chapter may bring an action at law to recover actual damages. | Actual damages means all compensatory damages proximately caused by the prohibited practice or act that are reasonably ascertainable in amount. | the court shall award to the consumer the costs of the action and to the consumer's attorney reasonable fees | not captured | source | yes |
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 48-601 et seq. | Yes - consumer may bring an action to recover actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater | Consumer may recover actual damages | To prevailing plaintiff, mandatory; to prevailing defendant, discretionary | Due consideration and great weight to FTC and federal court interpretations | source | yes |
| Illinois | 815 ILCS 505 | Yes, a person who suffers actual damage may bring an action | Actual economic damages may be awarded at the court's discretion | Court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the prevailing party, with exceptions | In construing this section consideration shall be given to the interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts relating to Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act | source | yes |
| Indiana | Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5 | not captured | not captured | not captured | not captured | source | yes |
| Kansas | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 50-623 et seq. | yes | consumer may recover damages or a civil penalty, whichever is greater | court may award to the prevailing party reasonable attorney fees, discretionary | not captured | source | yes |
| Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 367.110 et seq. | Yes, a consumer may sue for actual damages and equitable relief | Recovery of actual damages; court may in its discretion award actual damages | Court may award to the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs | not captured | source | yes |
| Louisiana | La. Rev. Stat. § 51:1401 et seq. | Any person who suffers any ascertainable loss of money or movable property... may bring an action individually but not in a representative capacity to recover actual damages. | Actual damages recoverable by a person who suffers ascertainable loss. | Court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the person bringing the action if damages are awarded; may award to defendant if action groundless and brought in bad faith or for harassment. | Exemption for conduct complying with FTC Act section 5(a)(1), rules, and court decisions interpreting them. | source | yes |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A | yes | recovery shall be in the amount of actual damages or twenty-five dollars, whichever is greater | petitioner shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs | the courts will be guided by the interpretations given by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Courts to section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act | source | yes |
| Maryland | Md. Code, Com. Law § 13-101 et seq. | yes | recovery for injury or loss sustained | court may award reasonable attorney's fees to person awarded damages; discretionary | not captured | source | yes |
| Maine | 5 M.R.S. § 205-A et seq. | Any person who purchases or leases goods, services or property, real or personal, primarily for personal, family or household purposes and thereby suffers any loss of money or property... may bring an action | actual damages | petitioner shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs | courts will be guided by the interpretations given by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Courts | source | yes |
| Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.901 et seq. | Yes; a person who suffers loss as a result of a violation may bring an action to recover actual damages or $250.00, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees; also may seek declaratory judgment or injunction | Recoverable by a person who suffers loss; also recoverable in class actions brought by the attorney general or a person | Reasonable attorney fees to the person who suffers loss and brings an action | A method, act, or practice declared by a circuit court of appeals or the US Supreme Court to be unfair or deceptive under section 5(a)(1) of the FTC Act may support an action if officially reported not less than 30 days before the conduct occurs | source | yes |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 325F.68 et seq. | Yes - a consumer injured by a violation may bring a civil action and recover damages, costs, attorney fees, and equitable relief | Consumer may recover damages | To consumer/plaintiff; recoverable as part of private action (reasonable attorney fees) | not captured | source | yes |
| Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 407.010 et seq. | Yes - any person who purchases or leases merchandise primarily for personal, family or household purposes and suffers an ascertainable loss may bring a private civil action to recover actual damages | Recoverable - private action to recover actual damages | Discretionary award to the prevailing party, based on time reasonably expended | not captured | source | yes |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 75-24-1 et seq. | not captured | not captured | not captured | not captured | source | yes |
| Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-101 et seq. | Consumer may bring an individual action but not a class action | Recover money damages in the amount of any ascertainable loss of money or property | Court may award prevailing party reasonable attorney fees, limited to $250/hour; not if actual damages $100,000 or more | Federal interpretation -- rules determining unfair competition and deception | source | yes |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 et seq. | yes | not captured | discretionary, to prevailing party's attorney, payable by losing party | not captured | source | yes |
| North Dakota | N.D.C.C. § 51-15-01 et seq. | yes | actual damages proven | court must order the person commencing the action recover costs, disbursements, and actual reasonable attorney's fees | not captured | source | yes |
| Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 59-1601 et seq. | Yes - any person injured in business or property may bring a civil action | Recover the actual damages sustained | Costs of the suit including a reasonable attorney's fee to the injured person; prevailing party may recover costs including reasonable attorney's fee in AG action | not captured | source | yes |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 358-A | Yes - any person injured may bring an action for damages and equitable relief | Recovery in the amount of actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater | Prevailing plaintiff awarded costs and reasonable attorney's fees | Courts may be guided by FTC and federal court interpretations of Section 5(a)(1) of the FTC Act | source | yes |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 56:8-1 et seq. | not captured | not captured | not captured | not captured | source | yes |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 57-12-1 et seq. | not captured | not captured | not captured | not captured | source | yes |
| Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 598.0903 et seq. | An action may be brought by any person who is a victim of consumer fraud. | Any damages that the claimant has sustained. | The claimant's costs in the action and reasonable attorney's fees. | not captured | source | yes |
| New York | N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 349 et seq. | Yes, any person injured by a deceptive act or practice may bring an action in their own name | Recover such person's actual damages or fifty dollars, whichever is greater | Court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff (discretionary) | Complete defense if act or practice complies with FTC rules/regulations/statutes as interpreted by FTC or federal courts | source | yes |
| Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code § 1345.01 et seq. | yes | actual economic damages | prevailing party, discretionary | court shall give due consideration and great weight to FTC orders, rules, guides, and federal court interpretations | source | yes |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 15 § 751 et seq. | The aggrieved consumer shall have a private right of action for damages, including but not limited to, costs and attorney's fees. | Violator liable to the aggrieved consumer for actual damages sustained by the customer and costs of litigation including reasonable attorney's fees. | Costs of litigation including reasonable attorney's fees to the aggrieved consumer. | not captured | source | yes |
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. § 646.605 et seq. | A person that suffers an ascertainable loss of money or property as a result of another person's willful use or employment of a method, act or practice declared unlawful under ORS 646.608 may bring an individual action | A private plaintiff may recover actual damages or statutory damages of $200, whichever is greater | Court may award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff; to a prevailing defendant only if no objectively reasonable basis existed | not captured | source | yes |
| Pennsylvania | 73 P.S. § 201-1 et seq. | Any person who purchases or leases goods or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes and thereby suffers any ascertainable loss of money or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or employment by any person of a method, act or practice declared unlawful by section 3 of this act, may bring a private action to recover actual damages or one hundred dollars ($100), whichever is greater. | actual damages | The court may award to the plaintiff, in addition to other relief provided in this section, costs and reasonable attorney fees. | not captured | source | yes |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-1 et seq. | Yes, a person who purchases or leases goods or services primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and suffers an ascertainable loss may bring an action. | Recover actual damages or $500, whichever is greater. | Court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to a person bringing an action. | Due consideration and great weight shall be given to FTC and federal court interpretations of § 5(a) of the FTC Act. | source | yes |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code § 39-5-10 et seq. | Yes, a person who suffers ascertainable loss may bring an action individually, but not in a representative capacity | Actual damages recoverable | To person bringing action, mandatory upon finding of violation | Courts guided by FTC and Federal Court interpretations of FTC Act Section 5(a)(1) | source | yes |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws ch. 37-24 | Any person who claims to have been adversely affected by any act or a practice declared to be unlawful by § 37-24-6 shall be permitted to bring a civil action for the recovery of actual damages suffered as a result of such act or practice. | recovery of actual damages suffered as a result of such act or practice | The attorney general, if the prevailing plaintiff, may also recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs. | not captured | source | yes |
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-101 et seq. | not captured | not captured | not captured | not captured | source | yes |
| Texas | Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 17.41 et seq. | A consumer may maintain an action where any of the following constitute a producing cause of economic damages or damages for mental anguish | the amount of economic damages found by the trier of fact | Each consumer who prevails shall be awarded court costs and reasonable and necessary attorneys' fees | the courts to the extent possible will be guided by Subsection (b) of this section and the interpretations given by the Federal Trade Commission and federal courts | source | yes |
| Utah | Utah Code § 13-11-1 et seq. | A consumer who suffers loss as a result of a violation of this chapter may bring a class action for the actual damages | actual damages | reasonable attorney fees | not captured | source | yes |
| Virginia | Va. Code § 59.1-196 et seq. | Yes, any person who suffers loss as the result of a violation may initiate an action. | Yes, recoverable. | May be awarded to the person (plaintiff). | not captured | source | yes |
| Vermont | 9 V.S.A. § 2451 et seq. | yes | the amount of his or her damages, or the consideration or the value of the consideration given by the consumer | recoverable by consumer; reasonable attorney's fees | courts of this State will be guided by the construction of similar terms contained in Section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act | source | yes |
| Washington | RCW 19.86 | yes | recover the actual damages sustained | to prevailing party in AG action (discretionary); to plaintiff in private action (mandatory) | not captured | source | yes |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 100.18 | Yes, a person suffering pecuniary loss may sue. | Recover pecuniary loss. | Recoverable by a person suffering pecuniary loss, with exceptions. | not captured | source | yes |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 46A-6-101 et seq. | yes | Actual damages are recoverable. | The court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses to the consumer. | Courts be guided by the policies of the Federal Trade Commission and interpretations given by the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts to Section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. | source | yes |
| Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. § 40-12-101 et seq. | A person relying upon an uncured unlawful deceptive trade practice may bring an action under this act for the damages he has actually suffered as a consumer | damages he has actually suffered as a consumer | court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the plaintiffs in a class action | not captured | source | yes |