---
title: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-852. Factors for determining imposition and amount of civil penalty.
collection: code
id: 10-1-852
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-852 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1-852
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1-852.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1-852/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t10-(v8)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=1992b47e_0#page=571
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-1-851.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COMMERCE AND TRADE / SELLING AND OTHER TRADE PRACTICES / UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE PRACTICES TOWARD ELDER OR DISABLED PERSONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 10-1-852. Factors for determining imposition and amount of civil penalty.

In determining whether to impose a civil penalty under Code Section 10-1-851 and the amount thereof, the court shall consider the extent to which one or more of the following factors are present:

(1) Whether the defendant’s conduct was in disregard of the rights of the elder or disabled persons;

(2) Whether the defendant knew or should have known that the defendant’s conduct was directed to an elder person or disabled person;

(3) Whether the elder or disabled person was more vulnerable to the defendant’s conduct because of age, poor health, infirmity, impaired understanding, restricted mobility, or disability than other persons and whether the elder or disabled person actually suffered substantial physical, emotional, or economic damage resulting from the defendant’s conduct;

(4) Whether the defendant’s conduct caused an elder or disabled person to suffer any of the following:

(A) Mental or emotional anguish;

(B) Loss of or encumbrance upon a primary residence of the elder or disabled person;

(C) Loss of or encumbrance upon the elder or disabled person’s principal employment or principal source of income;

(D) Loss of funds received under a pension or retirement plan or a government benefits program;

(E) Loss of property set aside for retirement or for personal or family care and maintenance; or

(F) Loss of assets essential to the health and welfare of the elder or disabled person; or

(5) Any other factors the court deems appropriate.

## History

Code 1981, § 10-1-852, enacted by Ga. L. 1993, p. 1092, § 2; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1088, § 10/SB 148.