1. If, after an investigation, the Commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that any person has been engaged or is engaging in any deceptive trade practice in violation of NRS 598.0903 to 598.0999, inclusive, the Commissioner may issue an order directed to the person to show cause why the Director should not order the person to cease and desist from engaging in the practice and to pay an administrative fine. The order must contain a statement of the charges and a notice of a hearing to be held thereon. The order must be served upon the person directly or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
2. An administrative hearing on any action brought by the Commissioner must be conducted before the Director or his or her designee.
3. If, after conducting a hearing pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2, the Director or his or her designee determines that the person has violated any of the provisions of NRS 598.0903 to 598.0999, inclusive, or if the person fails to appear for the hearing after being properly served with the statement of charges and notice of hearing, the Director or his or her designee shall issue an order setting forth his or her findings of fact concerning the violation and cause to be served a copy thereof upon the person and any intervener at the hearing. If the Director or his or her designee determines in the report that such a violation has occurred, he or she may order the violator to:
(a) Cease and desist from engaging in the practice or other activity constituting the violation;
(b) Pay the costs of conducting the investigation, costs of conducting the hearing, costs of reporting services, fees for experts and other witnesses, charges for the rental of a hearing room if such a room is not available to the Director or his or her designee free of charge, charges for providing an independent hearing officer, if any, and charges incurred for any service of process, if the violator is adjudicated to have committed a violation of NRS 598.0903 to 598.0999, inclusive;
(c) Provide restitution for any money or property improperly received or obtained as a result of the violation; and
(d) Impose an administrative fine of $1,000 or treble the amount of restitution ordered, whichever is greater.
The order must be served upon the person directly or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. The order becomes effective upon service in the manner provided in this subsection.
4. Any person whose pecuniary interests are directly and immediately affected by an order issued pursuant to subsection 3 or who is aggrieved by the order may petition for judicial review in the manner provided in chapter 233B of NRS. Such a petition must be filed within 30 days after the service of the order. The order becomes final upon the filing of the petition.
5. If a person fails to comply with any provision of an order issued pursuant to subsection 3, the Commissioner or the Director may, through the Attorney General, at any time after 30 days after the service of the order, cause an action to be instituted in the district court of the county wherein the person resides or has his or her principal place of business requesting the court to enforce the provisions of the order or to provide any other appropriate injunctive relief.
6. If the court finds that:
(a) The violation complained of is a deceptive trade practice;
(b) The proceedings by the Director or his or her designee concerning the written report and any order issued pursuant to subsection 3 are in the interest of the public; and
(c) The findings of the Director or his or her designee are supported by the weight of the evidence,
the court shall issue an order enforcing the provisions of the order of the Director or his or her designee.
7. An order issued pursuant to subsection 6 may include:
(a) A provision requiring the payment to the Consumer Affairs Division of the Department of Business and Industry of a penalty of not more than $5,000 for each act amounting to a failure to comply with the Director’s or designee’s order;
(b) An order that the person cease doing business within this State; and
(c) Such injunctive or other equitable or extraordinary relief as is determined appropriate by the court.
8. Any aggrieved party may appeal from the final judgment, order or decree of the court in a like manner as provided for appeals in civil cases.
9. Upon the violation of any judgment, order or decree issued pursuant to subsection 6 or 7, the Commissioner, after a hearing thereon, may proceed in accordance with the provisions of NRS 598.0999.
(Added to NRS by 1995, 2173; A 2005, 1228, 1249, 1427; 2007, 739; 2009, 1189; R temp. 2009, 2732; R temp. 2011, 2652; R temp. 2013, 1032, 1054; A 2015, 3648, 3652, 3653; 2017, 1534, 4351)