West Virginia Code 22C-9-12 – Injunctive relief
(a) Whenever it appears to the commission that any person has been or is violating or is about to violate any provision of this article, any reasonable rule promulgated by the commission hereunder or any order or final decision of the commission, the commission may apply in the name of the state to the circuit court of the county in which the violations or any part thereof has occurred, is occurring or is about to occur, or the judge thereof in vacation, for an injunction against such person and any other persons who have been, are or are about to be, involved in any practices, acts or omissions, so in violation, enjoining such person or persons from any such violation or violations. Such application may be made and prosecuted to conclusion whether or not any such violation or violations have resulted or shall result in prosecution or conviction under the provisions of section fourteen of this article.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 22C-9-12
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Commission: means the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and "commissioner" means the Oil and Gas Conservation Commissioner as provided for in §. See West Virginia Code 22C-9-2
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Judgment: includes decrees and orders for the payment of money, or the conveyance or delivery of land or personal property, or some interest therein, or any undertaking, bond or recognizance which has the legal effect of a judgment. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Person: means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, fiduciary or other representative of any kind, and includes any government or any political subdivision or any agency thereof. See West Virginia Code 22C-9-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Well: means any shaft or hole sunk, drilled, bored, or dug into the earth or underground strata for the extraction of oil or gas. See West Virginia Code 22C-9-2
(b) Upon application by the commission, the circuit courts of this state may by mandatory or prohibitory injunction compel compliance with the provisions of this article, the reasonable rules promulgated by the commission hereunder and all orders and final decisions of the commission. The court may issue a temporary injunction in any case pending a decision on the merits of any application filed. Any other section of this code to the contrary notwithstanding, the state shall not be required to furnish bond or other undertaking as a prerequisite to obtaining mandatory, prohibitory or temporary injunctive relief under the provisions of this article.
(c) The judgment of the circuit court upon any application permitted by the provisions of this section shall be final unless reversed, vacated or modified on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals. Any such appeal shall be sought in the manner and within the time provided by law for appeals from circuit courts in other civil actions.
(d) The commission shall be represented in all such proceedings by the Attorney General or the Attorney General's assistants and in such proceedings in the circuit courts by the prosecuting attorneys of the several counties as well, all without additional compensation. The commission, with the written approval of the Attorney General, may employ special counsel to represent the commission in any such proceedings.
(e) If the commission shall refuse or fail to apply for an injunction to enjoin a violation or threatened violation of any provision of this article, any reasonable rule promulgated by the commission hereunder or any order or final decision of the commission within ten days after receipt of a written request to do so by any person who is or will be adversely affected by such violation or threatened violation, the person making such request may apply in his own behalf for an injunction to enjoin such violation or threatened violation in any court in which the commission might have brought suit. The commission shall be made a party defendant in such application in addition to the person or persons violating or threatening to violate any provision of this article, any reasonable rule promulgated by the commission hereunder or any order or final decision of the commission. The application shall proceed and injunctive relief may be granted without bond or other undertaking in the same manner as if the application had been made by the commission.