Terms Used In Michigan Laws 324.12115

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Department: means the department of environmental quality. See Michigan Laws 324.12101
  • 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.
  • Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 324.301
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
    (1) The attorney general may commence a civil action against a person in a court of competent jurisdiction for appropriate relief, including injunctive relief for a violation of this part, or a registration or permit issued pursuant to this part. The court has jurisdiction to restrain the violation and to require compliance. In addition to any other relief granted under this section, the court may impose a civil fine of not more than $10,000.00 for each instance of violation and, if the violation is continuous, for each day of continued noncompliance. A fine collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund.
    (2) The attorney general or a person may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover the full value of the damage done to the natural resources that are damaged or destroyed and the costs of surveillance and enforcement by the state as a result of a violation of this part. The damages and costs collected under this section shall be deposited in the general fund. However, if the damages result from the impairment or destruction of the fish, wildlife, or other natural resources of the state, the damages shall be deposited in the game and fish protection account of the Michigan conservation and recreation legacy fund provided in section 2010. The attorney general may, in addition, recover expenses incurred by the department to address and remedy a violation of this part that the department reasonably considered an imminent and substantial threat to the public health, safety, or welfare, or to the environment.
    (3) The court may award court costs and other expenses of litigation including attorney fees to a party who successfully brings an action pursuant to this section or to a person who successfully defends against an action brought under this section that the court determines is frivolous.