21-6503. Deceptive commercial practice. (a) A deceptive commercial practice is the knowing act, use or employment by any person of any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation of a material fact, with the intent that others shall rely thereon in connection with the sale of any merchandise.

(b) A deceptive commercial practice is a class B nonperson misdemeanor.

(c) It shall not be a defense to a charge of deceptive commercial practice that no person has in fact been misled, deceived or damaged thereby.

(d) As used in this section:

(1) "Merchandise" means any objects, wares, goods, commodities, intangibles, real estate or services;

(2) "person" means any natural person, partnership, domestic corporation, foreign corporation, company, trust, business entity or association; and

(3) "sale" means any sale, offer for sale, or attempt to sell any merchandise for any consideration.

(e) This section shall not apply to the owner or publisher of any newspaper, magazine or other printed matter wherein an advertisement appears, or to the owner or operator of a radio or television station which disseminates an advertisement, when such owner, publisher or operator had no knowledge of the intent, design or purpose of the advertisement.

History: L. 2010, ch. 136, § 234; July 1, 2011.