New Mexico Statutes 6-27-9. Investigation of Affordable Housing Act violations;
penalties; remedies.
Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 6-27-9
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
A. The attorney general shall investigate an alleged violation of the Affordable Housing Act reported by the authority. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person is in possession, custody or control of an original or copy of a document or recording, including a record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription or other tangible document or recording that the attorney general believes to be relevant to the subject matter of an investigation of a probable violation of the Affordable Housing Act, the attorney general may, prior to the institution of a civil proceeding, execute in writing and cause to be served upon the person a civil investigative demand requiring the person to produce for inspection or copying the document or recording.
B. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person has violated a provision of the Affordable Housing Act and that instituting a proceeding against that person would be in the public interest, the attorney general may bring a civil action on behalf of the state alleging a violation of the Affordable Housing Act. The action may be brought in the district court of the county in which the person alleged to have violated that act resides or in which the person’s principal place of business is located. The attorney general shall not be required to post bond when seeking a temporary or permanent injunction in the civil action.
C. The attorney general may, in addition to or as an alternative to pursuing a civil action, as provided in this section, pursue criminal charges against a person for an alleged violation of the Affordable Housing Act under the applicable provisions of the Criminal Code. Venue for any criminal action shall be in the judicial district where the violation occurred.
D. In a civil action brought under this section for an alleged violation of the Affordable Housing Act, if a court finds that a person willfully committed an act in violation of the Affordable Housing Act, the attorney general may seek to recover a civil penalty not exceeding the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation, in addition to any equitable relief imposed by the court.
E. As used in this section, “person” means an individual, including a municipal or county government employee or elected official, or a corporate entity, including any organization formed under state law to carry out business or other activities.