59.1-203 - Restraining prohibited acts.
§ 59.1-203. Restraining prohibited acts.
A. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the AttorneyGeneral, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or the attorney for any city,county, or town may cause an action to be brought in the appropriate circuitcourt in the name of the Commonwealth, or of the county, city, or town toenjoin any violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1. The circuit court havingjurisdiction may enjoin such violations notwithstanding the existence of anadequate remedy at law. In any action under this section, it shall not benecessary that damages be proved.
B. Unless the Attorney General, any attorney for the Commonwealth, or theattorney for any county, city, or town determines that a person subject tothe provisions of this chapter intends to depart from this Commonwealth or toremove his property herefrom, or to conceal himself or his property herein,or on a reasonable determination that irreparable harm may occur if immediateaction is not taken, he shall, before initiating any legal proceedings asprovided in this section, give notice in writing that such proceedings arecontemplated, and allow such person a reasonable opportunity to appear beforesaid attorney and show that a violation did not occur or execute an assuranceof voluntary compliance, as provided in § 59.1-202.
C. The circuit courts are authorized to issue temporary or permanentinjunctions to restrain and prevent violations of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1.
D. The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,or his duly authorized representative, shall have the power to inquire intopossible violations of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1, and, if necessary, torequest, but not to require, an appropriate legal official to bring an actionto enjoin such violation.
(1977, c. 635; 1982, c. 13; 1988, c. 485; 2008, c. 485.)