Sec. 36b-72. (Formerly Sec. 36-515). Violations. Enforcement powers of commissioner. Remedies.

(a) Whenever it appears to the commissioner, after an investigation, that any person or persons have violated, are violating or are about to violate any of the provisions of sections 36b-60 to 36b-80, inclusive, or any regulation, rule or order adopted or issued under said sections or that a further sale or offer to sell would constitute a violation of said sections, or any such regulation, rule or order, the commissioner may order the person or persons to cease and desist from the violations of the provisions of said sections or any such regulations, rules or orders or from further sale or offering to sell business opportunities constituting or which would constitute a violation of the provisions of said sections or any such regulations, rules or orders. After any such order is issued, the person or persons named in such order may, within fourteen days after receipt of the order, file a written request for a hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

(b) (1) Whenever the commissioner finds as the result of an investigation that any person has violated any of the provisions of sections 36b-60 to 36b-80, inclusive, or any regulation, rule or order adopted or issued under said sections, the commissioner may send a notice to such person by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any express delivery carrier that provides a dated delivery receipt. The notice shall be deemed received by the person on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or the date seven days after the date on which such notice was mailed or sent. Any such notice shall include: (A) A reference to the title, chapter, regulation, rule or order alleged to have been violated; (B) a short and plain statement of the matter asserted or charged; (C) the maximum fine that may be imposed for such violation; (D) a statement indicating that such person may file a written request for a hearing on the matters asserted not later than fourteen days after receipt of the notice; and (E) the time and place for the hearing.

(2) If a hearing is requested within the time specified in the notice, the commissioner shall hold a hearing upon the charges made unless such person fails to appear at the hearing. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. After the hearing if the commissioner finds that the person has violated any of the provisions of sections 36b-60 to 36b-80, inclusive, or any regulation, rule or order adopted or issued under said sections, the commissioner may, in addition to any other remedy authorized by said sections, order that a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars per violation be imposed upon such person. If such person fails to appear at the hearing, the commissioner may, as the facts require, order that a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars per violation be imposed upon such person. The commissioner shall send a copy of any order issued pursuant to this subsection by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any express delivery carrier that provides a dated delivery receipt, to any person named in such order.

(c) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that any person or persons have violated, are violating or are about to violate any of the provisions of sections 36b-60 to 36b-80, inclusive, or any regulation, rule or order adopted or issued under said sections, or that the further sale or offer to sell would constitute a violation of said sections, or any such regulation, rule or order, the commissioner may in addition to any other remedy authorized by said sections: (1) Bring an action in the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enjoin the acts or practices constituting a violation and to enforce compliance with said sections or any such regulation, rule or order. Upon a proper showing, a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order or writ of mandamus shall be granted and a receiver or conservator may be appointed for the defendant or the defendant's assets. The court shall not require the commissioner to post a bond; (2) seek a court order imposing a fine not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars per violation against any person found to have violated any order issued by the commissioner; or (3) in addition to any other remedies provided by this section, apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford for an order of restitution whereby the defendants in such action shall be ordered to make restitution of those sums shown by the commissioner to have been obtained by them in violation of any of the provisions of said sections or any such regulation, rule or order, plus interest at the rate set forth in section 37-3a. Such restitution shall, at the option of the court, be payable to the receiver or conservator appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, or directly to the persons whose assets were obtained in violation of any provision of said sections or any such regulation, rule or order.

(d) Any time after the issuance of an order or notice provided for in subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the commissioner may accept an agreement by any respondent named in such order or notice to enter into a written consent order in lieu of an adjudicative hearing. The acceptance of a consent order shall be within the complete discretion of the commissioner. The consent order provided for in this subsection shall contain (1) an express waiver of the right to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the validity of such order or notice; (2) a provision that such order or notice may be used in construing the terms of the consent order; (3) a statement that such consent order shall become final when issued; (4) a specific assurance that none of the violations alleged in such order or notice shall occur in the future; (5) such other terms and conditions as are necessary to further the purposes and policies of sections 36b-60 to 36b-80, inclusive; (6) the signature of each of the individual respondents evidencing such respondent's consent; and (7) the signature of the commissioner or of the commissioner's authorized representative.

(P.A. 79-458, S. 13, 19; P.A. 80-483, S. 110, 169, 186; P.A. 81-48, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-353; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; P.A. 97-22, S. 17; P.A. 01-48, S. 5; P.A. 06-75, S. 1; P.A. 09-160, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 80-483 replaced “Hartford county” with “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in Subdiv. (2); P.A. 81-48 amended Subdiv. (4) to permit interest at the rate set forth in Sec. 37-3a to be added to any restitution and to allow restitution to be paid directly to the person whose assets were illegally obtained; P.A. 87-353 restructured the section by dividing it into Subsecs., made technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (c) and (d), added provisions in Subsec. (b)(1) re notice requirements for hearings, and increased the fine the commissioner may impose to $10,000; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; Sec. 36-515 transferred to Sec. 36b-72 in 1995; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-22 made technical changes; P.A. 01-48 amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to express delivery, replacing “civil penalty” with “fine” and making technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 06-75 amended Subsec. (a) to require commissioner to conduct investigation before determining violation, to extend commissioner's cease and desist authority to persons who have violated the act or any regulation, rule or order under the act and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (b)(1) to authorize commissioner to send notice upon finding as result of investigation that any person has violated the act or any such regulation, rule or order, deleting reference to whenever “it appears to” commissioner, amended Subsec. (b)(2) to make a technical change and increase maximum fine from $10,000 per violation to $100,000 per violation, amended Subsec. (c) to extend commissioner's authority to bring action in superior court to persons who have violated the act or any such regulation, rule or order, and to make conforming and technical changes, and amended Subsec. (d) to insert references to “notice”, to substitute “respondent named in such order or notice” for “person charged with violating any provision of sections 36b-60 to 36b-80, inclusive,”, to eliminate provision re presiding officer designated by commissioner and to make technical changes; P.A. 09-160 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by making technical changes, by adding provision re when notice is deemed received by a person, by repositioning provision requiring time and place for a hearing to be included with notice to Subpara. (E) and by adding new Subpara. (D) requiring statement indicating that a person may file written request for hearing to be included in notice, and amended Subsec. (b)(2) by adding “If a hearing is requested within the time specified in the notice” and by making technical changes.