Sec. 4.
(1) The attorney general may maintain an action to enjoin a continuing violation of this act. If the court finds that the defendant is violating or has violated this act, the court shall enjoin that defendant from a continuance of the violation. The court may enjoin the defendant from a continuance of the violation, even if actual damages are not alleged or proved.
(2) The attorney general shall not institute an action for an injunction unless the attorney general has notified the defendant of the attorney general's intention to seek an injunction if the defendant does not stop violating or does not take positive action to stop violating this act. The attorney general shall serve notice upon the defendant at least 48 hours before the filing of the action. The court shall not issue an injunction if the defendant has stopped violating or has taken positive action to stop violating this act after receipt of the notice.
(3) The attorney general may accept an assurance of discontinuance of a practice alleged to be in violation of this act from the person engaging in, or who was engaged in, that practice. The person offering an assurance of discontinuance shall place the assurance in writing and shall file the assurance with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the alleged violator resides or has his or her principal place of business. The clerk of the circuit court shall not require a filing fee for the filing of an assurance. The person offering the assurance of discontinuance shall sign the assurance and shall include in the assurance a statement describing the acts or practices for which the assurance of discontinuance is being given and the specific sections of the law prohibiting those acts or practices. The assurance is not an admission of any fact or issue at law.
(4) A prosecuting attorney or law enforcement officer receiving notice of an alleged violation of this act, or of a violation of an injunction, order, decree, or judgment issued in an action brought pursuant to this section, or of an assurance under this act, shall immediately forward written notice of the violation together with any information the prosecuting attorney or law enforcement officer may have to the office of the attorney general.
(5) A person who knowingly violates this act or the terms of an injunction, order, decree, or judgment issued pursuant to this section shall forfeit and pay to the state a civil penalty of not more than $200.00 for the first violation and not more than $1,000.00 for the second and any subsequent violation. For the purposes of this section, the court issuing an injunction, order, decree, or judgment shall retain jurisdiction, the cause shall be continued, and the attorney general may petition for recovery of a civil penalty as provided by this section.
(6) The attorney general may promulgate rules pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, being sections 24.201 to 24.328 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, to implement and administer sections 2 to 7.
History: 1988, Act 98, Imd. Eff. Apr. 11, 1988