In a Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) action, what can a plaintiff be awarded?

In a Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) action, a plaintiff can be awarded treble damages, which means they can potentially receive three times the amount of their actual damages. This provision serves as a deterrent against deceptive practices and aims to provide consumers with substantial compensation when they have been harmed by a seller's misleading actions. The DTPA is specifically designed to protect consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices, and the availability of treble damages highlights the seriousness of these violations.

The purpose of treble damages is to not only compensate the plaintiff for their loss but also to punish the defendant and deter others from engaging in similar deceptive practices. This enhancement of damages underscores the emphasis Texas law places on consumer protection.

In addition to treble damages, plaintiffs may also seek other forms of relief, such as actual damages or potentially attorney's fees, but the distinctive element of treble damages makes this the correct answer in the context of the DTPA. While other options highlight different forms of damages or costs, they do not capture the unique provision for treble damages in the DTPA context.