59-8-223 - Injunctive relief. - Tennessee Statutes

59-8-223. Injunctive relief.

(a)  When there is reason to believe that a person is violating or is about to violate or has violated any of the provisions of this part or any permits or orders issued thereunder, the commissioner may institute proceedings in the chancery court of the county in which the alleged violation occurred for injunctive relief to prevent continuance of such action or to correct the conditions resulting or about to result therefrom or both. The court shall grant the injunction without the necessity of showing a lack of adequate remedy at law upon a showing by the commissioner that such person is violating or about to violate or has violated one (1) or more of the provisions of this part. In such suits, the commissioner may obtain permanent or temporary injunctions, prohibitory or mandatory, and restraining orders.

(b)  The commissioner may bring suit for injunctive enforcement of any order made by the commissioner when such order has become final as a result of any person's failure to appeal to the board, and such person has failed to comply with the order. In such suits, all findings of fact contained in the order and complaint shall be deemed to be final, and not subject to review except as to receipt of notice of the order, but the defendant may proffer evidence showing that the defendant has in fact complied with the commissioner's order. The order made by the commissioner in such cases shall be prima facie reasonable and valid, and it shall be presumed that the commissioner has complied with all requirements of the law. The board may likewise bring suit for enforcement of any order made by it, which has become final either by the failure of any person to appeal the board's order or by an appellate court's decision against any person who fails to comply with such final order. In such suits, the board's decision shall not be subject to challenge as to matters of law or fact, but the violator may proffer evidence showing that the violator has in fact complied with the board's order.

(c)  Any suit for an injunction brought by the commissioner shall be filed in the chancery court of the county in which all or a part of the violation is or is about to occur, in the name of the department, by the district attorney general or by the attorney general at the direction of the commissioner or the board and under the supervision of the attorney general. Such proceedings shall not be tried by jury. Appeals from judgments or decrees of the chancery court in proceedings brought under the provisions of this part shall lie to the supreme court despite the fact that controverted questions of fact may be involved.

[Acts 1972, ch. 547, § 21; 1974, ch. 590, § 10; T.C.A., § 58-1561.]