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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="5-1110" title_number="5" title_name="Limitations, Prohibited Actions, and Immunities" subtitle_number="11" subtitle_name="Structured Settlements">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Attorney General may suspend or revoke the registration of a structured settlement transferee, or deny an application for registration, if the Attorney General finds that the transferee or any of its employees, affiliates, or agents has:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Directly or indirectly paid any fee or charge to any person as an inducement to refer a payee to the transferee in connection with a transfer subject to this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Directly or indirectly offered or provided any gift to a payee or a member of a payee’s family in connection with a transfer subject to this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Directly or indirectly offered any loan, extension of credit, or advance to a payee or a member of a payee’s family as an inducement to transfer structured settlement payment rights;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Made any referral of a payee for independent professional advice concerning a proposed transfer subject to this subtitle other than a referral to a local or state bar association or not–for–profit lawyer referral service unaffiliated with any structured settlement transferee that makes referrals to attorneys, certified public accountants, or licensed financial consultants;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Communicated with a payee or a person related to a payee with obscene or grossly abusive language, with the frequency, at unusual hours, or in any other manner as reasonably can be expected to abuse or harass the payee in connection with a transfer subject to this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Engaged in any unfair or deceptive trade practice, under § 13–301 of the Commercial Law Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Conducted business in the State related to the transfer of structured settlement payment rights in any name other than the name or trade name registered with the Attorney General;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>With respect to a transferee, its affiliates, directors, members, general partners, officers, or executive, managerial, professional, or sales and marketing employees, been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty, deception, or moral turpitude;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>Been found by a court of competent jurisdiction or a government agency to have committed fraud, engaged in unfair trade practices, or committed any other civil wrong or regulatory violation involving dishonesty or deception; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>Otherwise failed to comply with the provisions of this subtitle in connection with a transfer subject to this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>In addition to, or instead of, denying an application for registration, or suspending or revoking the registration of any registrant, the Attorney General may impose a civil penalty for each violation of this subtitle in an amount not exceeding:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>$1,000 for a first violation; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>$5,000 for each subsequent violation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In determining whether to deny an application for registration or suspend or revoke the registration of a registrant, or the amount of any civil penalty to be imposed, the Attorney General shall consider:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The seriousness of the violation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The good faith of the transferee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any history of previous violations; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Any other factor relevant to the determination.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Attorney General shall provide to a registrant notice and an opportunity to request a hearing under Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article to contest a proposed disciplinary action under this section, except that the Attorney General may delegate the authority to conduct a hearing to a deputy or assistant attorney general.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any party aggrieved by a decision and order of the Attorney General under this section and § 5–1108 of this subtitle may petition for judicial review as provided under §§ 10–222 and 10–223 of the State Government Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
