Section 22-257. Liability for violations

a. A wholesale business or market
  business required by this chapter to be registered with the commissioner
  shall be liable for a  violation  committed  by  any  of  its  officers,
  employees  and/or  agents acting within the scope of their employment of
  any of the provisions of this chapter or any rules promulgated  pursuant
  thereto.
    b.  In  any  civil  action  or  administrative  proceeding  against an
  employee of a wholesale business or market business for a  violation  of
  this  chapter  or any rules promulgated pursuant thereto, it shall be an
  affirmative defense that the employee was acting within the scope of his
  or her employment when the action or actions  constituting  the  alleged
  violation  were committed and that such action or actions were committed
  pursuant to an instruction given to  such  employee  by  such  wholesale
  business  or  market  business  or by any principal, officer or agent of
  such business, provided, however, that this  subdivision  shall  not  be
  applicable  to  a  violation of section 22-252 or section 22-262 of this
  chapter and any rules promulgated pursuant thereto.