Mississippi § 41-67-28 - Violations; penalties and damages [Repealed effective July 1, 2023].

§ 41-67-28. Violations; penalties and damages [Repealed effective July 1, 2023].

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person who shall knowingly violate this chapter or any rule or regulation or written order of the board in pursuance thereof is, upon conviction, guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Section 41-3-59. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation. In addition to all other statutory and common law rights, remedies and defenses, any person who purchases an individual on-site wastewater disposal system and suffers any ascertainable loss of money or property, real or personal, may bring an action at law in the court having jurisdiction in the county in which the installer or manufacturer has the principal place of business, where the act allegedly occurred, to recover any loss of money or damages for the loss of any property resulting from any of the following: Improper installation of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system due to faulty workmanship; Failure of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system to operate properly due to failure to install the system in accordance with any requirements of the manufacturer or in compliance with any rules and regulations of the board; or Failure of an individual on-site wastewater disposal system to operate properly due to installation. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit any class action or suit, but every private action must be maintained in the name of and for the sole use and benefit of the individual person. A person who violates this chapter thereby causing a discharge off the property of the generator shall be liable to the party aggrieved or damaged by that violation for the actual damages and additional punitive damages equal to a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the actual damages proven by the aggrieved party, to be taxed by the court where the suit is heard on an original action, by appeal or otherwise and recovered by a suit at law in any court of competent jurisdiction. In addition, the court may award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs. Before filing suit, the party aggrieved or damaged must give thirty (30) days’ written notice of its intent to file suit to the alleged violator. Any person who violates Section 41-67-7(5) or 41-67-11(2) may be assessed an administrative fine in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and the public water system may discontinue service to that property owner until the failure to comply with Section 41-67-7(5) or 41-67-11(2) has been corrected. All violators shall be given thirty (30) days’ notice before any adverse action. Any violator shall have the right to appeal an adverse determination through the procedures set out in Section 41-67-29.