§1064. Enforcement; penalty; attorney fees; costs

A. The board may employ or retain legal counsel to represent the state and the board and to appear in the courts and before agencies of this state, or the courts and agencies of the United States, and of other states to carry out the purposes of this Chapter.

B. The board, through its president, may bring an action in the court having jurisdiction whenever the board has evidence that any person has engaged, is engaged, or is about to engage in any acts or practices constituting a violation of this Chapter or of any rule, regulation, or order of the board issued thereunder to enjoin such acts or practices, or to enforce compliance with this Chapter or any rule, regulation, decision or order of the board. The relief sought by the board may include a mandatory injunction commanding any person to comply with this Chapter or any rule, regulation, decision or order of the board, and to make restitution of money received in violation of any such rule, regulation, decision or order, and for all costs of enforcement, including court costs, deposition, and other discovery costs, and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the board to enjoin such acts or practices and to enforce compliance with this Chapter or any rule, regulation, decision or order of the board. Upon a proper showing a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction shall be granted without bond. In a suit for an injunction, the board, through its president, may demand and the court may assess, in addition to the injunction, a penalty of not more than five thousand dollars, which may be rendered in the same judgment in which the injunction is made absolute and shall be made payable to the board. A trial of this proceeding shall be summary, with preference over ordinary proceedings, and tried by a judge without a jury. A violation of an injunction shall be considered contempt of court and shall be punished accordingly.

C. The board, through its president, may file civil proceedings to collect civil penalties imposed by the board as a result of an investigation or other administrative proceeding which indicates that a violation of this Chapter or of any rule or regulation of the board has occurred which is subject to civil penalties, or upon the failure of any person, firm, association, corporation, limited liability company, or trust to timely pay any civil penalty imposed by the board when due. The board shall be authorized to and shall be entitled to recover, from such party all costs of collection, including court costs, deposition, and other discovery costs, and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the board in collecting such civil penalty. A judgment of a district court assessing civil penalties may be appealed suspensively to the appropriate court of appeal according to the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure. A judgment assessing civil penalties shall become executory when all delays for appeal have expired according to the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, and may be enforced as any other money judgment and shall be payable to the board. A trial of this proceeding shall be summary, with preference over ordinary proceedings, and tried by a judge without a jury.

D. The board, through its president, may transmit such evidence as may be available concerning acts or practices or concerning apparent violations of this Chapter or of any rule, regulation, decision or order of the board, to the district attorney having jurisdiction over such acts, practices, and violations, who, in his or her discretion, may institute criminal proceedings.

E. Any action brought pursuant to this Section shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any penalty provided by this Chapter and may be brought concurrently with other actions to enforce this Chapter.

Amended by Acts 1982, No. 677, §1; Acts 2003, No. 987, §1; Acts 2009, No. 289, §1.