Massachusetts § 2E - Review of cease and desist orders; civil liability

§ 2E. Review of cease and desist orders; civil liability

Section 2E. Any bank required by an order of the commissioner under section two D to cease and desist from engaging in any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice may obtain a review of such order by filing in the supreme judicial court, within thirty days from the date of the service of such order, a written petition praying that the order of the commissioner be set aside. A copy of such petition shall be forthwith served upon the commissioner and thereupon, the commissioner forthwith shall certify and file in such court a transcript of the entire record in the proceeding, including all the evidence taken and the report and order of the commissioner. Upon such filing of the petition and transcript, such court shall have jurisdiction of the proceeding and of the questions determined therein, shall determine whether the filing of such petition shall operate as a stay of such order of the commissioner and shall have the power to make and enter upon the pleadings, evidence and proceedings set forth in such transcript a decree modifying, affirming or reversing the order of the commissioner, in whole or in part. The findings of the commissioner as to the facts, if supported by a clear preponderance of the evidence, shall be conclusive.

To the extent that the order of the commissioner is affirmed, the court shall thereupon issue its own order commanding obedience to the terms of such order of the commissioner. If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shall show to the satisfaction of the court that such additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the proceedings before the commissioner, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the commissioner and to be adduced upon the hearing in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as the court may deem proper. The commissioner may modify his findings of fact or make new findings by reason of the additional evidence so taken and he shall file such modified or new findings, which, if supported by a clear preponderance of the evidence, shall be conclusive, and his recommendation, if any, for the modification or setting aside of his original order, with the return of such additional evidence.

A cease and desist order issued by the commissioner under section two D shall become final:

(1) Upon the expiration of the time allowed for filing a petition for review if no such petition has been duly filed within such time; except that the commissioner may thereafter modify or set aside his order to the extent provided in section two D; or

(2) Upon the final decision of the court if the court directs that the order of the commissioner be affirmed or the petition for review be dismissed.

No order of the commissioner under this section, or section two D, or order of a court to enforce the same shall in any way relieve or absolve any bank affected by such order from any liability under any other laws of the commonwealth.