§8-19-11. Penalties.

(a) Any person who violates the terms of an injunction or order issued under this chapter shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 per violation and shall be adjudged in contempt. For the purpose of this section, any circuit court issuing an injunction or order under this chapter shall retain jurisdiction, and in such cases the Attorney General or the district attorney acting in the name of the state may petition for recovery of such civil penalties.

(b) Any person who is knowingly engaging in or has knowingly engaged in any act or practice declared unlawful by Section 8-19-5 shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 per violation upon petition by the Attorney General or a district attorney acting in the name of the state to the circuit court for the county in which the defendant resides, is doing business, or has his/her principal place of business, or the county in which the unlawful act or practice was or is being committed.

(c) Furthermore, upon a second or continuing violation of an injunction after imposition of the sanctions in subsection (a) of this section, and upon petition by the Attorney General or a district attorney, the circuit court of general jurisdiction of a county may, in its discretion, order the dissolution or suspension or forfeiture of the franchise of any corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship which willfully violates the terms of any injunction issued under Section 8-19-8.

(d) The penalties authorized under this section shall not apply to any offender who shows by a preponderance of evidence that he had established reasonable procedures to comply with this chapter or with any injunction issued under Section 8-19-8.

(e) In any successful action or petition brought under this section, the court shall award the office of the Attorney General and/or the office of the district attorney reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

(f) All penalties collected under this section shall be remitted by the circuit court to the state treasurer and shall be credited to the account of either the office of the Attorney General or the office of the district attorney, whichever initiated the action or petition resulting in imposition of such penalties.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-355, p. 510, §11.)