2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 3:1371 — Penalties; injunctive relief

§1371.  Penalties; injunctive relief

A.  The commissioner may impose the following civil penalties for the following violations:

(1)  The penalty for the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of solid materials which do not meet the standard for neutralizing value shall be one percent of the invoice price of the lot from which the sample was taken for each percentage point, or fraction of a percentage point, of the total weight of the lot, by which the material fails to meet the standard.

(2)  The penalty for the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of solid materials which do not meet the standard for magnesium content shall be one and one-half percent of the invoice price of the lot from which the sample was taken for each percentage point, or fraction of a percentage point, of the total weight of the lot by which the material fails to meet the standard.

(3)  The penalty for the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of solid materials which do not meet the standard for moisture content shall be one and one-half percent of the invoice price of the lot from which the sample was taken for each percentage point, or fraction of a percentage point, of the total weight of the lot, by which the material fails to meet the standard.

(4)  The penalty for the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of solid or suspension materials which do not meet screen standard shall be one percent of the invoice price of the lot from which the sample was taken for each percentage point, or fraction of a percentage point, of the total weight of the lot, by which the material fails to meet the standard.

(5)  The penalty for the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of liquid or suspension materials which do not meet the standard for neutralizing value shall be one and one-half percent of the invoice price of the lot from which the sample was taken for each percentage point, or fraction of a percentage point, of the total weight of the lot, by which the material fails to meet the standard.

(6)  The penalty for the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of liquid or suspension materials which do not meet the standard for magnesium content shall be two percent of the invoice price of the lot from which the sample was taken for each percentage point, or fraction of a percentage point, of the total weight of the lot, by which the material fails to meet the standard.

B.  The minimum penalty for the violations set forth in Subsection A of this Section shall be ten dollars.  The maximum penalty for the violations set forth in Subsection A of this Section shall be an amount equal to twice the invoice price of the lot from which the sample was taken.

C.  Each manufacturer, distributor, jobber, and retailer who has had ownership or possession of any lot which is found to be in violation of this Part as provided in Subsection A of this Section shall be liable in solido for the payment of the penalty.

D.  The commissioner may assess a civil penalty for violations of R.S. 3:1370(3) and (4) in an amount equal to four times the value of the missing material.  The value of the missing material shall be determined based on the price of the material as shown on the invoice.

E.  When the commissioner has evidence which indicates that a person has committed an offense for which the penalty is found in Subsections A through D of this Section, the commissioner shall notify the person, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the facts involved in the alleged offense and the penalty set forth in Subsections A through D of this Section for the alleged offense.  If the alleged violator does not pay the penalty within fifteen days of the notice, the commissioner may call a hearing to adjudicate the matter as provided in Subsection H of this Section.

F.  The commissioner may assess a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for any other violation of the prohibitions set forth in R.S. 3:1370.  Each day on which a violation occurs shall be considered a separate offense.

G.  The commissioner may suspend or revoke the registration of any agricultural liming material for any violation of the provisions of this Part or of the rules and regulations adopted under the provisions of this Part.

H.  Civil penalties may be assessed, and registrations may be suspended or revoked, only by a ruling by the commissioner based on an adjudicatory hearing held in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

I.  The commissioner may institute civil proceedings to enforce his rulings in the district court for the parish in which the violation occurred.

J.  The commissioner may institute civil proceedings seeking injunctive relief to restrain and prevent the violation of the provisions of this Part or of the rules and regulations adopted under the provisions of this Part in the district court for the parish in which the violation occurred.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 667, §1, eff. July 22, 1982.