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<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="14-110" title_number="14" title_name="Business Opportunities, Franchises, and Multilevel Distribution Companies" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Business Opportunities">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Whenever the Commissioner determines that a person has engaged or is about to engage in an act or practice that constitutes a violation of this subtitle or a violation of a regulation adopted or order passed under this subtitle, the Commissioner may, without a prior hearing, pass a summary order directing the person to cease and desist from engaging in the activity that constitutes a violation.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The summary order shall provide:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>notice of the opportunity for a hearing before the Commissioner to determine whether the cease and desist order should be vacated, modified, or entered as final; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>notice that the Commissioner shall enter the order as final if the person subject to the cease and desist order fails to request a hearing within 15 days after the receipt of the cease and desist order.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Whenever the Commissioner determines after notice and a hearing that a person has engaged in any act or practice constituting a violation of this subtitle, the Commissioner may in the discretion of the Commissioner and in addition to taking any other action authorized under this subtitle:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>pass a final cease and desist order against the person;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>bar the person from engaging in the offer and sale of business opportunities in the State; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>take any combination of the actions specified in this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The person subject to the cease and desist order may waive the right to a hearing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a person subject to a cease and desist order waives the right to a hearing, the Commissioner is not required to hold a hearing to take any action under subsection (a)(3) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Whenever the Commissioner determines that any person has engaged in or is about to engage in an act or practice constituting a violation of this subtitle or a violation of a regulation or order under this subtitle, the Commissioner may sue in the circuit court to obtain one or more of the following remedies:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a temporary restraining order;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a temporary or permanent injunction;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a declaratory judgment;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the appointment of a receiver or conservator for the defendant or the defendant’s assets;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>a freeze of the defendant’s assets;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>a civil penalty up to a maximum amount of $5,000 for any single violation of this subtitle;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>restitution;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>rescission; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>any other relief as the court finds just.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commissioner may not be required to post a bond in any action under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
