§ 2073. Additional enforcement of product safety rules and section 2064 orders
(a)
In general
Any interested person (including any individual or nonprofit, business, or other entity) may bring an action in any United States district court for the district in which the defendant is found or transacts business to enforce a consumer product safety rule or an order under section
2064 of this title, and to obtain appropriate injunctive relief. Not less than thirty days prior to the commencement of such action, such interested persons shall give notice by registered mail to the Commission, to the Attorney General, and to the person against whom such action is directed. Such notice shall state the nature of the alleged violation of any such standard or order, the relief to be requested, and the court in which the action will be brought. No separate suit shall be brought under this section if at the time the suit is brought the same alleged violation is the subject of a pending civil or criminal action by the United States under this chapter. In any action under this section the court may in the interest of justice award the costs of suit, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (determined in accordance with section
2060
(f) of this title) and reasonable expert witnesses’ fees.
(b)
State Attorney General enforcement
(1)
Right of action
Except as provided in paragraph (5), the attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, alleging a violation of section
2068
(a)(1), (2), (5), (6), (7), (9), or (12) of this title that affects or may affect such State or its residents may bring an action on behalf of the residents of the State in any United States district court for the district in which the defendant is found or transacts business to obtain appropriate injunctive relief.
(2)
Initiation of civil action
(A)
Notice to Commission required in all cases
A State shall provide written notice to the Commission regarding any civil action under paragraph (1). Except when proceeding under subparagraph (C), the State shall provide the notice at least 30 days before the date on which the State intends to initiate the civil action by filing a complaint.
(C)
Actions involving substantial product hazard
Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), a State may initiate a civil action under paragraph (1) by filing a complaint immediately after notifying the Commission of the State’s determination that such immediate action is necessary to protect the residents of the State from a substantial product hazard (as defined in section
2064
(a) of this title).
(3)
Intervention by the Commission
The Commission may intervene in such civil action and upon intervening—
(4)
Construction
Nothing in this section, section
1264
(d) of this title, section
1477 of this title, or section
1194
(a) of this title shall be construed—
(5)
Limitation
No separate suit shall be brought under this subsection (other than a suit alleging a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) of section
2068
(a) of this title) if, at the time the suit is brought, the same alleged violation is the subject of a pending civil or criminal action by the United States under this chapter.
(6)
Restrictions on private counsel
If private counsel is retained to assist in any civil action under paragraph (1), the private counsel retained to assist the State may not—