§1810 — Title 50 War and National Defense | U.S. Code

Summary

Anyone who is not a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power (see section 1801 for those definitions) and who was unlawfully electronically watched, or whose information from such watching was used or shared in violation of the law, can sue the person who did it. They can get actual money for their loss, but at least: if they are a U.S. person, $10,000 or $1,000 for each day of the violation, whichever is larger; if not, $1,000 or $100 per day, whichever is larger. They can also get extra punitive money and reasonable lawyer and investigation costs.

Title 50, §1810

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An aggrieved person, other than a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power, as defined in section 1801(a) or (b)(1)(A) of this title, respectively, who has been subjected to an electronic surveillance or about whom information obtained by electronic surveillance of such person has been disclosed or used in violation of section 1809 of this title shall have a cause of action against any person who committed such violation and shall be entitled to recover—

(a)actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages equal to the greater of—

(1)if the aggrieved person is a United States person, $10,000 or $1,000 per day for each day of violation; or

(2)for any other aggrieved person, $1,000 or $100 per day for each day of violation;

(b)punitive damages; and

(c)reasonable attorney’s fees and other investigation and litigation costs reasonably incurred.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–49 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages of $1,000 or $100 per day for each day of violation, whichever is greater;”.

§1810 Civil Liability

Summary

Title 50, §1810

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata