BILL REQ. #: S-4085.1
State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2004 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/29/2004. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to identity theft; amending RCW 9A.82.090, 9A.82.100, and 9A.82.120; reenacting and amending RCW 9.94A.515; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1 RCW 9A.82.090 and 2003 c 267 s 5 are each amended to read
as follows:
During the pendency of any criminal case charging a violation of
RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, ((or)) an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100,
or an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), the superior court may, in
addition to its other powers, issue an order pursuant to RCW 9A.82.100
(2) or (3). Upon conviction of a person for a violation of RCW
9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, ((or)) an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, or
an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), the superior court may, in
addition to its other powers of disposition, issue an order pursuant to
RCW 9A.82.100.
Sec. 2 RCW 9A.82.100 and 2003 c 267 s 6 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1)(a) A person who sustains injury to his or her person, business,
or property by an act of criminal profiteering that is part of a
pattern of criminal profiteering activity, ((or by)) an offense defined
in RCW 9A.40.100, an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), or by a
violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 may file an action in superior
court for the recovery of damages and the costs of the suit, including
reasonable investigative and attorney's fees.
(b) The attorney general or county prosecuting attorney may file an
action: (i) On behalf of those persons injured or, respectively, on
behalf of the state or county if the entity has sustained damages, or
(ii) to prevent, restrain, or remedy a pattern of criminal profiteering
activity, ((or)) an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, an offense
defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), or a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or
9A.82.080.
(c) An action for damages filed by or on behalf of an injured
person, the state, or the county shall be for the recovery of damages
and the costs of the suit, including reasonable investigative and
attorney's fees.
(d) In an action filed to prevent, restrain, or remedy a pattern of
criminal profiteering activity, ((or)) an offense defined in RCW
9A.40.100, an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), or a violation of RCW
9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, the court, upon proof of the violation, may
impose a civil penalty not exceeding two hundred fifty thousand
dollars, in addition to awarding the cost of the suit, including
reasonable investigative and attorney's fees.
(2) The superior court has jurisdiction to prevent, restrain, and
remedy a pattern of criminal profiteering, ((or)) an offense defined in
RCW 9A.40.100, an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), or a violation of
RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 after making provision for the rights of all
innocent persons affected by the violation and after hearing or trial,
as appropriate, by issuing appropriate orders.
(3) Prior to a determination of liability, orders issued under
subsection (2) of this section may include, but are not limited to,
entering restraining orders or prohibitions or taking such other
actions, including the acceptance of satisfactory performance bonds, in
connection with any property or other interest subject to damages,
forfeiture, or other restraints pursuant to this section as the court
deems proper. The orders may also include attachment, receivership, or
injunctive relief in regard to personal or real property pursuant to
Title 7 RCW. In shaping the reach or scope of receivership,
attachment, or injunctive relief, the superior court shall provide for
the protection of bona fide interests in property, including community
property, of persons who were not involved in the violation of this
chapter, except to the extent that such interests or property were
acquired or used in such a way as to be subject to forfeiture under RCW
9A.82.100(4)(f).
(4) Following a determination of liability, orders may include, but
are not limited to:
(a) Ordering any person to divest himself or herself of any
interest, direct or indirect, in any enterprise.
(b) Imposing reasonable restrictions on the future activities or
investments of any person, including prohibiting any person from
engaging in the same type of endeavor as the enterprise engaged in, the
activities of which affect the laws of this state, to the extent the
Constitutions of the United States and this state permit.
(c) Ordering dissolution or reorganization of any enterprise.
(d) Ordering the payment of actual damages sustained to those
persons injured by a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080, ((or)) an
offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, an offense defined in RCW
9.35.020(2), or an act of criminal profiteering that is part of a
pattern of criminal profiteering, and in the court's discretion,
increasing the payment to an amount not exceeding three times the
actual damages sustained.
(e) Ordering the payment of all costs and expenses of the
prosecution and investigation of a pattern of criminal profiteering,
((or)) an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, or an offense defined in
RCW 9.35.020(2), activity or a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080,
civil and criminal, incurred by the state or county, including any
costs of defense provided at public expense, as appropriate to the
state general fund or the antiprofiteering revolving fund of the
county.
(f) Ordering forfeiture first as restitution to any person damaged
by an act of criminal profiteering that is part of a pattern of
criminal profiteering, ((or)) by an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100,
or by an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), then to the state general
fund or antiprofiteering revolving fund of the county, as appropriate,
to the extent not already ordered to be paid in other damages, of the
following:
(i) Any property or other interest acquired or maintained in
violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 to the extent of the investment
of funds, and any appreciation or income attributable to the
investment, from a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080.
(ii) Any property, contractual right, or claim against property
used to influence any enterprise that a person has established,
operated, controlled, conducted, or participated in the conduct of, in
violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080.
(iii) All proceeds traceable to or derived from an offense included
in the pattern of criminal profiteering activity, ((or)) an offense
defined in RCW 9A.40.100, or an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), and
all moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, and other things of
value significantly used or intended to be used significantly to
facilitate commission of the offense.
(g) Ordering payment to the state general fund or antiprofiteering
revolving fund of the county, as appropriate, of an amount equal to the
gain a person has acquired or maintained through an offense included in
the definition of criminal profiteering.
(5) In addition to or in lieu of an action under this section, the
attorney general or county prosecuting attorney may file an action for
forfeiture to the state general fund or antiprofiteering revolving fund
of the county, as appropriate, to the extent not already ordered paid
pursuant to this section, of the following:
(a) Any interest acquired or maintained by a person in violation of
RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 to the extent of the investment of funds
obtained from a violation of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080 and any
appreciation or income attributable to the investment.
(b) Any property, contractual right, or claim against property used
to influence any enterprise that a person has established, operated,
controlled, conducted, or participated in the conduct of, in violation
of RCW 9A.82.060 or 9A.82.080.
(c) All proceeds traceable to or derived from an offense included
in the pattern of criminal profiteering activity, ((or)) an offense
defined in RCW 9A.40.100, or an offense defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), and
all moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, and other things of
value significantly used or intended to be used significantly to
facilitate the commission of the offense.
(6) A defendant convicted in any criminal proceeding is precluded
in any civil proceeding from denying the essential allegations of the
criminal offense proven in the criminal trial in which the defendant
was convicted. For the purposes of this subsection, a conviction shall
be deemed to have occurred upon a verdict, finding, or plea of guilty,
notwithstanding the fact that appellate review of the conviction and
sentence has been or may be sought. If a subsequent reversal of the
conviction occurs, any judgment that was based upon that conviction may
be reopened upon motion of the defendant.
(7) The initiation of civil proceedings under this section shall be
commenced within three years after discovery of the pattern of criminal
profiteering activity or after the pattern should reasonably have been
discovered or, in the case of an offense that is defined in RCW
9A.40.100 or 9.35.020(2), within three years after the final
disposition of any criminal charges relating to the offense, whichever
is later.
(8) The attorney general or county prosecuting attorney may, in a
civil action brought pursuant to this section, file with the clerk of
the superior court a certificate stating that the case is of special
public importance. A copy of that certificate shall be furnished
immediately by the clerk to the presiding chief judge of the superior
court in which the action is pending and, upon receipt of the copy, the
judge shall immediately designate a judge to hear and determine the
action. The judge so designated shall promptly assign the action for
hearing, participate in the hearings and determination, and cause the
action to be expedited.
(9) The standard of proof in actions brought pursuant to this
section is the preponderance of the evidence test.
(10) A person other than the attorney general or county prosecuting
attorney who files an action under this section shall serve notice and
one copy of the pleading on the attorney general within thirty days
after the action is filed with the superior court. The notice shall
identify the action, the person, and the person's attorney. Service of
the notice does not limit or otherwise affect the right of the state to
maintain an action under this section or intervene in a pending action
nor does it authorize the person to name the state or the attorney
general as a party to the action.
(11) Except in cases filed by a county prosecuting attorney, the
attorney general may, upon timely application, intervene in any civil
action or proceeding brought under this section if the attorney general
certifies that in the attorney general's opinion the action is of
special public importance. Upon intervention, the attorney general may
assert any available claim and is entitled to the same relief as if the
attorney general had instituted a separate action.
(12) In addition to the attorney general's right to intervene as a
party in any action under this section, the attorney general may appear
as amicus curiae in any proceeding in which a claim under this section
has been asserted or in which a court is interpreting RCW 9A.82.010,
9A.82.080, 9A.82.090, 9A.82.110, or 9A.82.120, or this section.
(13) A private civil action under this section does not limit any
other civil or criminal action under this chapter or any other
provision. Private civil remedies provided under this section are
supplemental and not mutually exclusive.
(14) Upon motion by the defendant, the court may authorize the sale
or transfer of assets subject to an order or lien authorized by this
chapter for the purpose of paying actual attorney's fees and costs of
defense. The motion shall specify the assets for which sale or
transfer is sought and shall be accompanied by the defendant's sworn
statement that the defendant has no other assets available for such
purposes. No order authorizing such sale or transfer may be entered
unless the court finds that the assets involved are not subject to
possible forfeiture under RCW 9A.82.100(4)(f). Prior to disposition of
the motion, the court shall notify the state of the assets sought to be
sold or transferred and shall hear argument on the issue of whether the
assets are subject to forfeiture under RCW 9A.82.100(4)(f). Such a
motion may be made from time to time and shall be heard by the court on
an expedited basis.
(15) In an action brought under subsection (1)(a) and (b)(i) of
this section, either party has the right to a jury trial.
Sec. 3 RCW 9A.82.120 and 2003 c 267 s 7 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The state, upon filing a criminal action under RCW 9A.82.060 or
9A.82.080 ((or)), for an offense defined in RCW 9A.40.100, an offense
defined in RCW 9.35.020(2), or a civil action under RCW 9A.82.100, may
file in accordance with this section a criminal profiteering lien. A
filing fee or other charge is not required for filing a criminal
profiteering lien.
(2) A criminal profiteering lien shall be signed by the attorney
general or the county prosecuting attorney representing the state in
the action and shall set forth the following information:
(a) The name of the defendant whose property or other interests are
to be subject to the lien;
(b) In the discretion of the attorney general or county prosecuting
attorney filing the lien, any aliases or fictitious names of the
defendant named in the lien;
(c) If known to the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney
filing the lien, the present residence or principal place of business
of the person named in the lien;
(d) A reference to the proceeding pursuant to which the lien is
filed, including the name of the court, the title of the action, and
the court's file number for the proceeding;
(e) The name and address of the attorney representing the state in
the proceeding pursuant to which the lien is filed;
(f) A statement that the notice is being filed pursuant to this
section;
(g) The amount that the state claims in the action or, with respect
to property or other interests that the state has requested forfeiture
to the state or county, a description of the property or interests
sought to be paid or forfeited;
(h) If known to the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney
filing the lien, a description of property that is subject to
forfeiture to the state or property in which the defendant has an
interest that is available to satisfy a judgment entered in favor of
the state; and
(i) Such other information as the attorney general or county
prosecuting attorney filing the lien deems appropriate.
(3) The attorney general or the county prosecuting attorney filing
the lien may amend a lien filed under this section at any time by
filing an amended criminal profiteering lien in accordance with this
section that identifies the prior lien amended.
(4) The attorney general or the county prosecuting attorney filing
the lien shall, as soon as practical after filing a criminal
profiteering lien, furnish to any person named in the lien a notice of
the filing of the lien. Failure to furnish notice under this
subsection does not invalidate or otherwise affect a criminal
profiteering lien filed in accordance with this section.
(5)(a) A criminal profiteering lien is perfected against interests
in personal property in the same manner as a security interest in like
property pursuant to RCW 62A.9A-301 through 62A.9A-316 or as otherwise
required to perfect a security interest in like property under
applicable law. In the case of perfection by filing, the state shall
file, in lieu of a financing statement in the form prescribed by RCW
62A.9A-502, a notice of lien in substantially the following form:
Sec. 4 RCW 9.94A.515 and 2003 c 335 s 5, 2003 c 283 s 33, 2003 c
267 s 3, 2003 c 250 s 14, 2003 c 119 s 8, 2003 c 53 s 56, and 2003 c 52
s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
TABLE 2 | ||
CRIMES INCLUDED WITHIN EACH SERIOUSNESS LEVEL | ||
XVI | ||
XV | ||
XIV | ||
XIII | ||
XII | ||
XI | ||
X | ||
IX | ||
VIII | ||
VII | ||
VI | ||
V | ||
IV | ||
III | ||
Escape 2 (RCW 9A.76.120) | ||
II | ||
I | ||
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 This act takes effect July 1, 2004.