Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 110a - Uniform Securities Act
Section 407a - Violations; Cease and Desist Orders; Costs

Section 407A. (a) If the secretary determines, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that any person has engaged in or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule or order issued thereunder, he may order such person to cease and desist from such unlawful act or practice and may take such affirmative action, including the imposition of an administrative fine, the issuance of an order for an accounting, disgorgement or rescission or any other such relief as in his judgment may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. No administrative fine imposed pursuant to this chapter shall exceed $25,000 for each violation and any fine collected shall be deposited in the Worker and Small Investor Protection Fund, established by section 68 of chapter 10.
(b) If the secretary makes written findings of fact that the public interest will be irreparably harmed by delay in issuing an order under subsection (a), the secretary may issue a temporary cease and desist order. Upon the entry of a temporary cease and desist order, the secretary shall promptly notify in writing the person subject to the order that such order has been entered, the reasons therefor, and that within twenty days after the receipt of a written request from such person the matter shall be set down for hearing to determine whether or not the order shall become permanent and final. If no hearing is requested and none is ordered by the secretary, the order shall remain in effect until it is modified or vacated by the secretary. If a hearing is requested or ordered, the secretary, after giving notice of and opportunity for a hearing to the person subject to the order, shall by written findings of fact and conclusions of law, vacate, modify, or make permanent the order.
(c) No order under this section, except an order issued pursuant to subsection (b), may be entered without prior notice of and opportunity for hearing. The secretary may vacate or modify an order under this section upon his finding that the conditions which required such an order have changed and that it is in the public interest to so vacate or modify.
An order issued pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be subject to review as provided in section four hundred and eleven.
(d) A registrant, applicant for registration, issuer or other person upon whom the secretary has conducted an examination, audit, investigation or adjudicatory proceeding who has been found to have violated the provisions of this chapter shall pay for all the costs incurred in the conduct of such examination, audit, investigation or proceeding. Such costs shall include, but not be limited to, the salaries and other compensation paid to clerical, administrative, investigative and legal personnel of the secretary in the conduct of such examination, audit, investigation or adjudicatory proceeding.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws