Assurances of voluntary compliance

Sec. 7. (a) In the administration of this chapter, the attorney general may accept an assurance of voluntary compliance with respect to any deceptive act from any person who has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in such deceptive act. The assurance of voluntary compliance may include a stipulation for the voluntary payment by the person of the costs of investigation or payment of an amount to be held in escrow pending the outcome of an action or as restitution to aggrieved consumers, or both. The assurance of voluntary compliance shall be in writing and shall be filed with and subject to the approval of the court having jurisdiction.

(b) The assurance of voluntary compliance shall not be considered an admission of a deceptive act for any purpose; however, any violation of the terms of the assurance constitutes prima facie evidence of a deceptive act. Matters thus closed may at any time be reopened by the attorney general for further proceedings in the public interest.

As added by Acts 1978, P.L.127, SEC.4.