Section 13A-6-162 Violations; Penalties.

(a) Any person, corporation, or other legal entity who engages in any act or practice that violates this article is liable for a civil penalty of up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for each violation. (b) Any person, corporation, or other legal entity who violates the terms of an injunction or order issued under this article shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) per violation and shall be adjudged in contempt. For the purpose of this section, any court issuing an injunction or order under this article shall retain jurisdiction, and in such cases the Attorney General may petition for recovery of civil penalties. (c) Upon a second or continuing violation of an injunction after imposition of the sanctions in subsection (b), and upon petition by the Attorney General, the circuit court of general jurisdiction of a county may order the dissolution or suspension or forfeiture of the franchise of any corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship that willfully violates the terms of any injunction issued pursuant to this article. (d) In any successful action brought by the Attorney General under this section, the court shall award the office of the Attorney General reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. (e) All penalties recovered in actions brought under this section shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the Attorney General’s Special Revenue Account for the purpose of implementing and enforcing this article. Amounts deposited into the Special Revenue Account shall be budgeted and allotted in accordance with Sections 41-4-80 through 41-4-96 and Sections 41-19-1 through 41-19-12.