(1) Whenever the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services has reasonable cause to believe that a person has been engaged or is engaging in any violation of any provision of ORS 59.840 to 59.980 or any rule or order of the director, the director may bring suit in the name and on behalf of the State of Oregon in the circuit court of any county of this state to enjoin the violation and to enforce compliance with any provision of ORS 59.840 to 59.980 or such rule or order. Upon a proper showing, a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order or writ of mandamus shall be granted. The court may fine the person against whom the order is entered not more than $5,000 for each violation, which shall be entered as a judgment and paid to the General Fund of the State Treasury. Each violation is a separate offense. In the case of a continuing violation, each day’s continuance is a separate violation, but the maximum penalty for any continuing violation shall not exceed $20,000 for each offense. If the court finds that the defendant has violated any provision of ORS 59.840 to 59.980 or any such rule or order, the court may appoint a receiver, who may be the director, for the defendant or the defendant’s assets. The court may not require the director to post a bond. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to the director if the director prevails in an action under this section. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to a defendant who prevails in an action under this section if the court determines that the director had no objectively reasonable basis for asserting the claim or no reasonable basis for appealing an adverse decision of the trial court.
(2) The director may include in any action authorized by subsection (1) of this section:
(a) A claim for restitution or damages under ORS 59.925 on behalf of the persons injured by the act or practice constituting the subject matter of the action. The court shall have jurisdiction to award appropriate relief to such persons, if the court finds that enforcement of the rights of such persons by private civil action, whether by class action or otherwise, would be so burdensome or expensive as to be impractical; or
(b) A claim for disgorgement of illegal gains or profits derived. Any recovery under this paragraph shall be turned over to the General Fund of the State Treasury unless the court requires other disposition. [1993 c.508 §11; 1995 c.696 §12]
Section: Previous 59.855 59.860 59.865 59.870 59.875 59.880 59.885 59.890 59.895 59.900 59.905 59.910 59.915 59.920 59.925 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008