12-814. Procedure in injunction action

A. An action instituted pursuant to section 12-813 shall be brought in the superior court of the county in which the property is located. At the commencement of the action a verified complaint alleging the facts constituting the nuisance shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court.

B. After the filing of the complaint, application for a preliminary injunction may be made to the court which shall grant a hearing within twenty days after the filing. Where such application for a preliminary injunction is made, the court may, on application of the complainant, issue an ex parte restraining order, restraining the defendant from removing or in any manner interfering with any obscene motion picture film or obscene pictorial publication or other item directly related to the conduct or maintenance of the place where such nuisance is alleged to exist and which is alleged in the complaint to constitute a nuisance until further order of the court. The restraining order may be served by handing to and leaving a copy of such order with the manager or person in charge of such place. Any violation of such restraining order is a contempt of court.

C. A copy of the complaint, together with a notice of the time and place of the hearing of the application for a preliminary injunction shall be served upon the defendant at least fifteen days before such hearing.

D. Before or after the commencement of the hearing of an application for a preliminary injunction, the court on application of the defendant, may order that the trial of the action on the merits be advanced and consolidated with the hearing on the application for a preliminary injunction. Evidence which would be admissible at trial shall become a part of the record and need not be reintroduced at the trial.

E. If upon hearing the allegations of the petition it appears to the court that there is sufficient evidence to establish that a nuisance as alleged in the complaint exists and that the plaintiff is likely to prevail at the trial on the merits, the court shall issue a preliminary injunction without additional bond restraining the defendant from continuing the nuisance. Such order shall also continue in effect for such further period of the restraining order if already issued, or, if not issued, it shall include an order restraining for such period the removal or interference with any obscene motion picture film or obscene pictorial publication or other item directly related to the obscene motion picture film or obscene pictorial publication including, but not limited to, promotional material for such film or publication and printing plates used to print such publication.