(A) Any business trust that transacts business in this state in violation of this chapter shall forfeit not less than one thousand nor more than ten thousand dollars. Such forfeiture shall be recovered in an action in the name of the state brought in the court of common pleas of Franklin county, or in the court of common pleas of any county in which the business trust has transacted business or has property or a place of business, by the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney. If such action is brought by the attorney general, such forfeiture shall on collection be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund. If brought by the prosecuting attorney, one-half of such forfeiture shall on collection be paid to the treasurer of the county in which action was brought and one-half shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund. In addition to such forfeiture, the court shall render a judgment that the business trust pay the filing fees required by division (B) of section 1746.04 of the Revised Code, plus interest on the fees at the rate of eight per cent per annum for the time during which the court determines that the business trust transacted business in this state in violation of section 1746.03 of the Revised Code. An action for the recovery of such forfeiture and filing fee shall be brought within five years after the business trust has ceased to transact business in this state.

(B) For good cause shown, the secretary of state, with the consent of the attorney general, before or after judgment, or the court in which an action is pending for the collection of a forfeiture, may remit all or part of the forfeiture.

Effective Date: 03-18-1983 .