§ 58-63-35.  Judicial review of cease and desist orders.

(a) Any person required by an order of the Commissioner under G.S. 58-63-32 to cease and desist from engaging in any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice defined in G.S. 58-63-15 may obtain a review of the order by filing in the Superior Court of Wake County, within 30 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 the petition shall be immediately served upon the Commissioner, and at that time the Commissioner immediately shall certify and file in the court a transcript of the entire record in the proceeding, including all the evidence taken and the report and order of the Commissioner. Upon the filing of the petition and transcript, the court has jurisdiction of the proceeding and of the question determined therein, shall determine whether the filing of the petition shall operate as a stay of the Commissioner's order, and has power to make and enter upon the pleadings, evidence, and proceedings set forth in the 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 substantial evidence, are conclusive.

(b) 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 proceeding 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 to the court may seem 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 substantial evidence shall be conclusive, and his recommendations, if any, for the modification or setting aside of his original order, with the return of such additional evidence.

(c) A cease and desist order issued by the Commissioner under G.S. 58-63-30 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 G.S. 58-63-30(b); 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 dismissed.

(d) No order of the Commissioner under this Article or order of a court to enforce the same shall in any way relieve or absolve any person affected by such order from any liability under any other laws of this State. (1949, c. 1112; 1995, c. 193, s. 50.)