81-18-39 - Definition of "person"; violations of law; cease and desist orders; failure to comply with order; civil penalty [Repealed effective July 1, 2010].
§ 81-18-39. Definition of "person"; violations of law; cease and desist orders; failure to comply with order; civil penalty [Repealed effective July 1, 2010].
(1) For purposes of this section, the term "person" shall be construed to include any officer, director, employee, affiliate or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of the person subject to the orders issued under this section.
(2) If the department reasonably determines that a person required to be licensed or registered under this chapter has violated any law of this state or any order or regulation of the department, the department may issue a written order requiring the person to cease and desist from unlawful or unauthorized practices. In the case of an unlawful purchase of mortgage loans, the cease and desist order to a purchaser shall constitute the knowledge required under this section for any subsequent violations.
(3) Any person required to be licensed or registered under this chapter who has been deemed by the commissioner, after notice and hearing, to have violated the terms of any order properly issued by the department under this section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00). The department, in determining the amount of the penalty, shall take into account the appropriateness of the penalty relative to the size of the financial resources of the person, the good faith efforts of the person to comply with the order, the gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations by the person, and other factors or circumstances that contributed to the violation. The department may compromise, modify or refund any penalty that has been imposed under this section. Any person assessed a penalty as provided in this subsection shall have the right to request a hearing on the amount of the penalty within ten (10) days after receiving notification of the assessment. If no hearing is requested within ten (10) days of the receipt of the notice, the penalty shall be final except as to judicial review in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County. Upon the filing of a petition for judicial review, the court shall issue an order to the licensee requiring the licensee to show cause why it should not be entered. If the court determines, after a hearing upon the merits or after failure of the person to appear when so ordered, that the order of the department was properly issued, it shall grant the penalty sought by the department.
Sources: Laws, 2000, ch. 579, § 20, eff from and after July 1, 2000; reenacted and amended, Laws, 2002, ch. 500, § 22; reenacted without change, Laws, 2004, ch. 364, § 22; reenacted without change, Laws, 2007, ch. 581, § 23, eff from and after July 1, 2007.