A person who obtains a final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction against a person licensed under this chapter, on the grounds of conduct by the licensee that is described in section 4707.15 of the Revised Code or that otherwise violates this chapter or rules adopted under it and that is associated with an act or transaction that only a licensee lawfully may perform, may file a verified application in a court of common pleas for an order directing payment from the auction recovery fund. The application shall be accompanied by the judgment entry and may seek payment in an amount that is equal to the portion of the judgment that remains unpaid.

The application shall specify the nature of the act or transaction on which the underlying judgment was based, the activities of the applicant in pursuit of remedies available under the law for the collection of judgments, and the actual and direct losses sustained by the applicant. The applicant shall attach to the application a copy of each pleading and order in the underlying court action. In addition, the application shall include proof of the applicant’s actual and direct loss.

Whenever possible, the court shall require all applicants and prospective applicants whose claims to the fund arose from an underlying judgment against the same licensee to be joined in one action under this section so that the rights of all applicants may be equitably adjudicated and settled.