Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 2280 – Enforcement; fines and penalties
(a) Whoever violates this chapter, any rule or regulation duly promulgated thereunder, any condition of a certificate issued pursuant to this chapter or any order of the Secretary issued pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to the following fines and penalties, as well as any other remedy described elsewhere in this chapter.
(1) A civil penalty shall be imposed by the Justice of the Peace Court of not less than $25 nor more than $1,000 for each violation. Each day of continued violation shall be considered as a separate violation up to a limit of $10,000. The Justice of the Peace Court shall have jurisdiction of a violation in which a civil penalty is sought. In setting penalty amounts under this section, consideration shall be given to offsetting any economic benefit from noncompliance or any delayed or avoided costs to any person. Further, penalty assessments shall be sufficient to deter recurrence of noncompliance. If there is a substantial likelihood that noncompliance will reoccur, the Commission may recommend that the Secretary also seek a permanent or preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order in the Court of Chancery. Civil penalties imposed under this section may not be suspended.
(2) In its discretion, the Commission may recommend that the Secretary impose an administrative penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. Prior to assessment of an administrative penalty, written notice of the Secretary’s proposal to impose such penalty shall be given to the violator, and the violator shall have 30 days from receipt of said notice to request a public hearing. Any public hearing, if requested, right of appeal and judicial appeal shall be conducted pursuant to this chapter. Assessment of an administrative penalty shall be determined by the nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation or violations, ability of the violator to pay, any prior history of such violations, the degree of culpability, economic benefit or savings (if any) resulting from the violation, and such other matters as justice may require.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 2280
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
(b) Any expenses or civil administrative penalties collected by the Department of Agriculture under this chapter are hereby appropriated to the Department for use in assisting persons in achieving compliance or to demonstrate the application of research that may be of substantial benefit to many individuals seeking compliance with this chapter.