(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected, (or any citizen of this state having knowledge that any of the provisions of this article are willfully or deliberately not being enforced and who files a statement with the regulatory authority in writing and under oath with facts set forth specifically stating the nature of the failure to enforce the provisions of this article), may commence a civil action on his own behalf to compel compliance with this article:

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Violationup to 30 daysup to $200
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-7
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 9-16-95

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • circuit: means judicial circuit. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • United States: includes the territories thereof and the District of Columbia. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(1) Against any other governmental instrumentality or agency to the extent permitted by the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which is alleged to be in violation of the provisions of this article or of any rule, regulation, order or permit issued pursuant thereto, or against any other person who is alleged to be in violation of any rule, regulation, order or permit issued pursuant to this article; or
(2) Against the regulatory authority to the extent permitted by the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution of the United States where there is alleged a failure of the regulatory authority to perform any act or duty under this article which is not discretionary with the regulatory authority.

In a civil action brought pursuant to this subsection, the cause shall be tried in the circuit court with jurisdiction over the location of the regulatory authority’s principal office, except that in a civil action brought against any person pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the cause shall be tried in the circuit court of the county where the alleged violation occurred and the action in either case shall be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest.

(b) No action may be commenced:

(1) Under subdivision (a) (1) of this section:

a. Prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice in writing of the violation (i) to the regulatory authority, (ii) to the Secretary of the Interior, and (iii) to any alleged violator; or
b. If the Secretary of the Interior, or the regulatory authority, has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil action to require compliance with the provisions of this article, or any rule, regulation, order, or permit issued pursuant to this article. In any such action in a court of the United States any person may intervene as a matter of right; or
(2) Under subdivision (a) (2) of this section prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice in writing of such action to the regulatory authority in such manner as the regulatory authority by regulation shall prescribe except that such action may be brought immediately after such notification in the case where the violation or order complained of constitutes an imminent threat to the health or safety of the plaintiff or would immediately affect a legal interest of the plaintiff.
(c) In such action under this section, the regulatory authority or the Secretary of the Interior if not parties, may intervene as a matter of right.
(d) The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, may award costs of litigation (including attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, whenever the court determines such award is appropriate. The court shall, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accordance with the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.
(e) Nothing in this section shall restrict any right which any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement of any of the provisions of this article and the regulations thereunder, or to seek any other relief, including relief against the regulatory authority, as permitted by the Constitution and laws of this state.
(f) Any person who is injured in his person or property through the violation by any operator of any rule, regulation, order, or permit issued pursuant to this article may bring an action for damages in the venue available under Alabama law. The court may award reasonable attorney and expert witness fees to the prevailing party. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the rights established by or limits imposed under state workers’ compensation laws.
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