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<section article="gcl" article_name="Commercial Law" number="14-1328" title_number="14" title_name="Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions" subtitle_number="13" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Consumer” has the meaning stated in § 13–101 of this article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Consumer contract” means a contract involving the sale, lease, or provision of goods or services that are for personal, family, or household purposes.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section does not apply to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A consumer contract for a service provided by a self–service storage facility, as defined in § 18–501 of this article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A service regulated by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Maryland Public Service Commission;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Federal Communications Commission; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A person or business licensed to provide security system services under Title 18 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the following provisions in a consumer contract are against State public policy, illegal, and void:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A provision that waives, limits, impairs, or disclaims the following remedies if authorized by federal or State law:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Statutory damages;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Punitive damages, including for intentional, knowing, or reckless violations of law;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Declaratory relief; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Injunctive relief; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A provision that sets a shorter time to bring an action under or on the consumer contract than required by State law when the consumer contract was issued or delivered.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A provision in a consumer contract may limit recovery of statutory or punitive damages authorized by federal or State law to the extent of the applicable limit of insurance coverage.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If a consumer contract contains a provision that is illegal under this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A court:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>May not give effect to the provision; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Shall enforce the remainder of the consumer contract to the extent practicable; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A defense to liability under the consumer contract may not be based on the provision.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This section shall be construed to apply equally and without favorable treatment to a consumer contract with or without an arbitration provision.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This section may not be construed to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Invalidate an arbitration provision that is enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Create a right or remedy not otherwise provided by federal or State law.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A provision of this section may not be waived by agreement.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
