32-2198.08

32-2198.08. Denial, suspension or revocation of a public report

A. The commissioner may order that a public report be denied, suspended or revoked or an application for a public report be denied if he finds that the order is necessary for the protection of purchasers or owners of membership camping contracts and that any of the following is true:

1. The membership camping operator's advertising, sales techniques or trade practices have been or are deceptive, false or misleading under section 44-1522.

2. The membership camping operator has failed to comply with any provision of this article or the rules pertaining to this article.

3. The membership camping operator is not financially responsible or has insufficient capital to warrant its offering or selling membership camping contracts or to complete proposed amenities.

4. The membership camping operator's offering of membership camping contracts has worked or would work a fraud on purchasers or owners of membership camping contracts.

5. The membership camping operator's application or any amendment to the application is incomplete in any material respect.

6. The membership camping operator has represented or is representing to purchasers in connection with the offer or sale of a membership camping contract that any property, facility, campsite or other development is planned without reasonable grounds to believe that the property, facility, campsite or other development will be completed within a reasonable time.

7. The membership camping operator has withdrawn from use all or any substantial portion of any campground, the rights of all purchasers at the affected location have not expired and no adequate provision has been made to provide a substitute campground of comparable quality and attraction in the same general area within a reasonable time after the withdrawal.

8. The membership camping operator or its agent made a representation which is false or misleading in any application, document or statement filed with the commissioner.

9. The membership camping operator has disseminated or caused to be disseminated any false or misleading promotional materials in connection with a campground.

10. The membership camping operator or any of his agents has failed to comply with any representation in the final public report or membership camping contract.

11. The owner, operator, agent, officer, director or partner, trust beneficiary holding ten per cent or more beneficial interest or, if a corporation, any stockholder owning ten per cent or more of the stock in such corporation has:

(a) Been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud, dishonesty, moral turpitude or any like offense, or involving a transaction in real estate, cemetery property, time-share intervals or membership camping campgrounds or contracts.

(b) Been permanently or temporarily enjoined by order, judgment or decree from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with the sale or purchase of real estate or cemetery property, time-share intervals, membership camping contracts or campgrounds, or securities or involving consumer fraud or the racketeering laws of this state.

(c) Had an administrative order entered against him by a real estate regulatory agency or security regulatory agency.

(d) Had an adverse decision or judgment entered against him involving fraud or dishonesty or involving the conduct of any business in or a transaction in real estate, cemetery property, time-share intervals or membership camping campgrounds or contracts.

(e) Disregarded or violated any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules of the commissioner pertaining to this chapter.

(f) Participated in, operated or held an interest in any entity to which subdivision (b), (c), (d) or (e) applies.

B. Within thirty days after receipt of the order of denial, an applicant objecting to the denial of a public report may file a written request for a hearing. The commissioner shall hold the hearing within twenty days thereafter unless the party requesting the hearing has requested a postponement. If the hearing is not held within twenty days after a request for a hearing is received, plus the period of any postponement, or if a proposed decision is not rendered within forty-five days after submisssion, the order of denial shall be rescinded and a public report issued.

C. The commissioner, on his own motion or if he has received a complaint and has satisfactory evidence that grounds exist as provided in subsection A of this section or that any person has deviated from the provisions of the public report, may conduct an investigation of such matter, may issue a summary order as provided in section 32-2157 or may hold a public hearing and, after the hearing, may issue such order or orders as he deems necessary to protect the public interest and ensure compliance with the law, the rules or the public report, or the commissioner may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction against the person to enjoin the person from continuing the violation, engaging the violation or doing any act in furtherance of the violation. The court may make such orders or judgments, including the appointment of a receiver, as may be necessary to prevent the use or employment by a person of any unlawful practices, or which may be necessary to restore to any person in interest any monies or property, real or personal, which may have been acquired by means of any practice in this article declared to be unlawful.

D. If the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that a person has engaged or is engaging in a practice declared to be unlawful by this article and that the person is concealing assets or self or has made arrangements to conceal assets or is about to leave this state and that the public health, safety or welfare so requires, the commissioner may apply to the superior court, ex parte, for an order appointing a receiver of the assets of the person or for a writ of ne exeat, or both.

E. The court, on receipt of an application for the appointment of a receiver or for a writ of ne exeat, or both, shall examine the verified application of the commissioner and any other evidence that the commissioner may present the court. If satisfied that the interests of the public require the appointment of a receiver or the issuance of a writ of ne exeat without notice, the court shall issue an order appointing the receiver or issue the writ, or both. Unless the court determines that the interests of the public will be harmed by the giving of notice, the court shall set a time for a hearing and require that such notice be given as the court deems satisfactory.

F. If the court appoints a receiver without notice, the court shall further direct that a copy of the order appointing a receiver be served on the person alleged to have engaged or to be engaging in a practice declared to be unlawful under this article by delivering the order to the last address of the person which is on file with the department. The order shall inform the person that he has the right to request a hearing within ten days of the date of the order and, if requested, that the hearing shall be held within twenty days from the date of the order.

G. If the commissioner determines that the managing camp operator is not financially responsible or has insufficient capital, the commissioner may require a surety bond or if one is unobtainable, other evidence of financial assurances in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and generally accepted commercial standards of financial responsibility satisfactory to the commissioner to assure the financial responsibility and sufficient capitalization of the membership camping operator or to assure the completion of proposed amenities.