Rhode Island General Laws 19-14.8-33. Administrative remedies
(a) The director may enforce this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter by taking one or more of the following actions:
(1) Ordering a provider or a director, employee, or other agent of a provider to cease and desist from any violations;
(2) Ordering a provider or a person who or that has caused a violation to correct the violation, including making restitution of money or property to a person aggrieved by a violation;
(3) Subject to adjustment of the dollar amount pursuant to § 19-14.8-32(f), imposing on a provider or a person who or that has caused a violation a civil penalty not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation;
(4) Prosecuting a civil action to:
(A) Enforce an order; or
(B) Obtain restitution or an injunction or other equitable relief, or both;
(5) Intervening in an action brought under § 19-14.8-35.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 19-14.8-33
- 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.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
(b) Subject to adjustment of the dollar amount pursuant to § 19-14.8-32(f), if a person violates or knowingly authorizes, directs, or aids in the violation of a final order issued under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2), the director may impose a civil penalty not exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
(c) The director may maintain an action to enforce this chapter in any county.
(d) The director may recover the reasonable costs of enforcing the chapter under subsections (a) — (c), including attorney’s fees based on the hours reasonably expended and the hourly rates for attorneys of comparable experience in the community.
(e) In determining the amount of a civil penalty to impose under subsection (a) or (b), the director shall consider the seriousness of the violation; the good faith of the violator; any previous violations by the violator; the deleterious effect of the violation on the public; the net worth of the violator; and any other factor the director considers relevant to the determination of the civil penalty.
History of Section.
P.L. 2006, ch. 243, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 291, § 3.