2020 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 11 - Financial Institutions
Article 51. Securities
Section 11-51-604. Civil liabilities.

(1) Any person who sells a security in violation of section 11-51-301 is liable to the person buying the security from such seller for the consideration paid for the security, together with interest at the statutory rate from the date of payment, costs, and reasonable attorney fees, less the amount of any income received on the security, upon the tender of the security, or is liable for damages if the buyer no longer owns the security. Damages are deemed to be the amount that would be recoverable upon a tender, less the value of the security when the buyer disposed of it, and interest at the statutory rate from the date of disposition. No person is liable under this subsection (1) for a violation of section 11-51-301 due solely to a failure to file the prescribed notification of exemption or to pay the required exemption fee for an exemption under section 11-51-308 (1)(p).

(2) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), any broker-dealer or sales representative who sells a security in violation of section 11-51-401 is liable to the person buying the security from such seller for the consideration paid for the security, together with interest at the statutory rate from the date of payment, costs, and reasonable attorney fees, less the amount of any income received on the security, upon the tender of the security, or is liable for damages if the buyer no longer owns the security. Damages are deemed to be the amount that would be recoverable upon a tender, less the value of the security when the buyer disposed of it, and interest at the statutory rate from the date of disposition.

(b) No broker-dealer or sales representative is liable under this subsection (2) for a sale of a security exempt from registration under section 11-51-307 (1)(g) to (1)(j) or for a sale of a security in a transaction exempt from registration under section 11-51-308 (1)(a), (1)(e) to (1)(l), (1)(o), or (1)(p); but this paragraph (b) does not apply if at the time of such sale:

1. In the case of a violation of section 11-51-401 arising from the failure of a brokerdealer to be licensed under this article, such broker-dealer was registered as a broker-dealer under the federal "Securities Exchange Act of 1934", licensed as a broker-dealer or its equivalent under the laws of another state, or held a limited license under this article; or

2. In the case of a violation of section 11-51-401 arising from the failure of a salesrepresentative to be licensed under this article, such sales representative was licensed as a sales representative or its equivalent under the laws of another state, held a limited license under this article, or in connection with such sale was acting for a broker-dealer which was registered as a broker-dealer under the federal "Securities Exchange Act of 1934", licensed as a broker-dealer or its equivalent under the laws of another state, or licensed under this article.

   5. An investment adviser or investment adviser representative who violates section11-51-401 is liable to each person to whom investment advisory services are provided in violation of such section in an amount equal to the greater of one thousand dollars or the value of all the benefits derived directly or indirectly from the relationship or dealings with such person prior to such time as the violation may be cured, together with interest at the statutory rate from the date of receipt of such benefits, costs, and reasonable attorney fees.

   6. An investment adviser or investment adviser representative who provides investment advisory services to another person but who recklessly, knowingly, or with an intent to defraud fails to furnish to that person a written disclosure statement as required by section 1151-409.5 is liable to such other person in an amount equal to one thousand dollars, the value of all benefits derived directly or indirectly from the relationship or dealings with such person, or for actual damages suffered by such other person, whichever is greatest, plus interest at the statutory rate, costs, reasonable attorney fees, or such other legal or equitable relief as the court may deem appropriate.

3. Any person who recklessly, knowingly, or with an intent to defraud sells or buys asecurity in violation of section 11-51-501 (1) or provides investment advisory services to another person in violation of section 11-51-501 (5) or (6) is liable to the person buying or selling such security or receiving such services in connection with the violation for such legal or equitable relief that the court deems appropriate, including rescission, actual damages, interest at the statutory rate, costs, and reasonable attorney fees.

4. Any person who sells a security in violation of section 11-51-501 (1)(b)(the buyernot knowing of the untruth or omission) and who does not sustain the burden of proof that such person did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of the untruth or omission is liable to the person buying the security from such person, who may sue to recover the consideration paid for the security, together with interest at the statutory rate from the date of payment, costs, and reasonable attorney fees, less the amount of any income received on the security, upon the tender of the security, or is liable for damages if the buyer no longer owns the security. Damages are deemed to be the amount that would be recoverable upon a tender, less the value of the security when the buyer disposed of it, and interest at the statutory rate from the date of disposition.

5. (a) Every person who, directly or indirectly, controls a person liable under subsection (1), (2), (2.5), (2.6), or (3) of this section is liable jointly and severally with and to the same extent as such controlled person, unless the controlling person sustains the burden of proof that such person did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of the existence of the facts by reason of which the liability is alleged to exist.

2. Every person who, directly or indirectly, controls a person liable under subsection (3) or (4) of this section is liable jointly and severally with and to the same extent as such controlled person, unless such controlling person sustains the burden of proof that such person acted in good faith and did not, directly or indirectly, induce the act or acts constituting the violation or cause of action.

3. Any person who knows that another person liable under subsection (3) or (4) of thissection is engaged in conduct which constitutes a violation of section 11-51-501 and who gives substantial assistance to such conduct is jointly and severally liable to the same extent as such other person.

6. Any tender specified in this section may be made at any time before entry of judgment.

7. Every cause of action under this article survives the death of any individual whomight have been a plaintiff or defendant.

8. No person may sue under subsection (1), (2), (2.5), or (2.6) or paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of this section more than two years after the contract of sale, or, as those provisions pertain to investment advisers, federal covered advisers, investment adviser representatives, and persons who provide investment advisory services, more than two years after the date of the violation. No person may sue under subsection (3) or (4) or paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (5) of this section more than three years after the discovery of the facts giving rise to a cause of action under subsection (3) or (4) of this section or after such discovery should have been made by the exercise of reasonable diligence and in no event more than five years after the purchase or sale, or, as those provisions pertain to investment advisers, federal covered advisers, investment adviser representatives, and persons who provide investment advisory services, more than five years after the date of the violation.

9. No buyer or seller of securities or recipient of investment advice may sue under thissection if:

(a) The buyer or seller of securities or recipient of investment advice receives, before the action is commenced, documentation of:

1. An offer stating how liability under this section may arise and fairly advising thebuyer or seller of securities or recipient of investment advice of that person's rights in connection with the offer and any information necessary, including financial, to correct any material misrepresentation or omission in the information that was required by this article to be furnished to the person at the time of the purchase, sale, or rendering of investment advice;

2. If the basis for relief under this subsection (9) is for a violation of subsection (1), (3),or (4) of this section and the person seeking recision is a buyer of securities:

1. An offer to repurchase the security for cash, payable on delivery of the security, inan amount equal to the consideration paid plus interest at the statutory rate from the date of the purchase less the amount of any income received on the security; or

2. If the buyer no longer owns the security, an offer to pay the purchaser, upon acceptance of the offer, damages in the amount that would be recoverable upon tender of the security less the value of the security when the buyer disposed of the security plus interest at the statutory rate from the date of the purchase, in cash, equal to the damages computed in the manner provided in this subparagraph (II);

(III) If the basis for relief under this subsection (9) is for a violation of subsection (1), (3), or (4) of this section and the person seeking recision is a seller of securities:

1. An offer to tender the security, on payment by the seller of an amount equal to thepurchase price paid, less income received on the security by the buyer, and interest at the statutory rate after the date of sale of the security to the buyer; or

2. If the buyer no longer owns the security, an offer to pay the seller of the securityupon acceptance of the offer, in cash, damages in the amount of the difference between the price at which the security was purchased and the value the security would have had at the time of the purchase in the absence of the buyer's conduct that may have caused liability and interest at the statutory rate after the date of sale of the security by the seller to the buyer;

(IV) If the basis for relief under this subsection (9) is a violation of subsection (2) of this section:

1. If the person is a buyer, an offer to pay pursuant to subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (a); or

2. If the person is a seller of securities, an offer to tender or to pay as specified insubparagraph (III) of this paragraph (a);

5. If the basis for relief under this subsection (9) is a violation of subsection (2.5) ofthis section, an offer to reimburse, in cash, the consideration paid for the advice and interest at the statutory rate from the date of the payment;

6. If the basis for relief under this subsection (9) is a violation of subsection (2.6) ofthis section, an offer to reimburse, in cash, the consideration paid for the advice, the amount of any actual damages that may have been caused by the conduct, and interest at the statutory rate from the date of the violation causing the loss;

2. The offer pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (9) states that the offer must beaccepted by the buyer or seller of securities or recipient of investment advice within thirty days after the offer is mailed by the buyer or seller of securities or recipient of investment advice. The party seeking recision may request that the securities commissioner authorize a time period for acceptance that is less than thirty days but not less than three days. The securities commissioner shall have the authority to grant such change in the acceptance period.

3. The offeror has the ability to pay the amount offered or to tender the security underparagraph (a) of this subsection (9) at the time the offer is made;

4. The offer pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (9) is delivered to the buyer orseller of securities or recipient of investment advice, or sent in a manner that ensures receipt by the buyer or seller of securities or recipient of investment advice; or

5. The buyer or seller of securities or recipient of investment advice who accepts theoffer made pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (9) is paid in accordance with the terms of the offer.

10. No person who has made or engaged in the performance of any contract in violationof any provision of this article or any rule or order under this article or who has acquired any purported right under any such contract with knowledge of the facts by reason of which the making or performance of any such contract was in violation may base any suit on the contract.

11. Any condition, stipulation, or provision binding any person acquiring or disposingof any security to waive compliance with any provision of this article or any rule or order under this article is void.

12. The rights and remedies provided by this article may be pleaded and proved in thealternative and are in addition to any other rights or remedies that may exist at law or in equity, but this article does not create any cause of action not specified in this section or section 11-51602.

13. Any person liable under this section may seek and obtain contribution from otherpersons liable under this section, directly or indirectly, for the same violation. Contribution shall be awarded by the court in accordance with the actual relative culpabilities of the various persons so liable.

14. In the case of a willful violation of or a willful refusal to comply with or obey anorder issued by the securities commissioner to any person pursuant to section 11-51-410 or 1151-606, the district court of the city and county of Denver, upon application by the securities commissioner, may issue to the person an order requiring that person to appear before the court regarding such violation or refusal. If the securities commissioner establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the person willfully violated or willfully refused to comply with or obey the order, the court may impose legal and equitable sanctions as are available to the court in the case of contempt of court and as the court deems appropriate upon such person.

Source: L. 90: Entire article R&RE, p. 731, § 1, effective July 1. L. 94: (14) added, p. 1840, § 6, effective July 1. L. 98: (2.5) and (2.6) added and (3), (5)(a), and (8) amended, p. 564, § 18, effective January 1, 1999. L. 2004: (9) amended, p. 515, § 4, effective July 1.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 11-51-125 as it existed prior to 1990.

Cross references: For the applicability of this section, see § 11-51-102 (7); for the "Securities Exchange Act of 1934", see Pub.L. 73-291, codified at 15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq.