(a) Violations of this Article shall be subject to the same criminal sanctions, civil penalties and equitable remedies as violations of county ordinances under G.S. 153A-123.
(b) Any person injured by a violation of this Article or any person who resides in the county in which the violation occurred may bring a civil action against the person alleged to be in violation. The action may seek:
(1) Injunctive relief; or
(2) An order enforcing the provision violated; or
(3) Damages caused by the violation; or
(4) Both damages and injunctive relief; or
(5) Both damages and an enforcement order; or
(6) Both an enforcement order and injunctive relief.
If actual damages as found by the court or jury in suits brought under this subsection are five hundred dollars ($500.00) or less, the plaintiff shall be awarded double the amount of actual damages; if the amount of actual damages as found by the court or jury is greater than five hundred dollars ($500.00), the plaintiff shall receive damages in the amount so found. Injunctive relief or an enforcement order under this subsection may be based upon a threatened injury, an actual injury, or both.
Civil actions under this subsection shall be brought in the General Court of Justice of the county in which the alleged violation occurred. The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to this section may award costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney and expert-witness fees, to any party, whenever it determines that such an award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security, the amount of such bond or security to be determined by the court. Nothing in this section shall restrict any right which any person or class of persons may have under the common law or under any statute to seek injunctive or other relief.
(c) Within the meaning of this section, violations of this Article include violations of local ordinances adopted pursuant to G.S. 113A-208. (1983, c. 676, s. 1.)
Sections: Previous 113A-189 through 113A-196 113A-205 113A-206 113A-207 113A-208 113A-209 113A-210 113A-211 113A-212 113A-213 113A-214 113A-220 113A-221 113A-222 113A-223 Next
Last modified: March 23, 2014