(a)  In addition to the penalties and other enforcement provisions of this chapter, if any person violates this chapter or any rule implementing this chapter, the commissioner may seek an injunction in a court of competent jurisdiction in this state and may apply for temporary and permanent orders that the commissioner determines necessary to restrain the person from further committing the violation.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 27-72-15

  • Commissioner: means the director of the department of business regulation or his or her designee. See Rhode Island General Laws 27-72-2
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • 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.
  • Person: means any natural person or legal entity including, but not limited to, a partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, or corporation. See Rhode Island General Laws 27-72-2
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.

(b)  Any person damaged by the acts of another person in violation of this chapter or any rule or regulation implementing this chapter, may bring a civil action for damages against the person committing the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c)  The commissioner may issue a cease and desist order upon a person who violates any provision of this part, any rule or order adopted by the commissioner, or any written agreement entered into with the commissioner, in accordance with the chapter governing administrative procedures, § 42-35-1 et seq.

(d)  When the commissioner finds that such an action presents an immediate danger to the public and requires an immediate final order, the commissioner may issue an emergency cease and desist order reciting with particularity the facts underlying such findings. The emergency cease and desist order is effective immediately upon service of a copy of the order on the respondent and remains effective for ninety (90) days. If the department begins non-emergency cease and desist proceedings under subsection (a), the emergency cease and desist order remains effective, absent an order by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to § 42-35-1 et seq. In the event of a willful violation of this chapter, the superior court may award statutory damages in addition to actual damages in an additional amount up to three (3) times the actual damage award. The provisions of this chapter may not be waived by agreement. No choice of law provision may be utilized to prevent the application of this chapter to any settlement in which a party to the settlement is a resident of this state.

History of Section.
P.L. 2009, ch. 195, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 262, § 1.