The Department of Consumer Protection and any agent thereof authorized to conduct any inquiry, investigation or hearing under the provisions of this chapter may administer oaths and take testimony under oath relative to the matter of inquiry or investigation. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may withhold from disclosure any complaints or inspections that result in an investigation conducted by the department under this chapter, or any other information obtained by the department during the course of an investigation conducted by the department under this chapter, until the earlier of (1) the date when the investigation is completed, (2) eighteen months after the date when the complaint resulting in the investigation was filed, or (3) eighteen months after the investigation was commenced. At any hearing ordered by the department, the department or such agent having authority by law to issue such process may subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, papers and documents pertinent to such inquiry. No witness under subpoena authorized to be issued by the provisions of this section shall be excused from testifying or from producing records, papers or documents on the ground that such testimony or the production of such records or other documentary evidence would tend to incriminate him, but such evidence or the records or papers so produced and any information directly or indirectly derived from such evidence, records or papers shall not be used in any criminal proceeding against him. If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question put to him by the department or its authorized agent or to produce any records and papers pursuant thereto, the department or its agent may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district wherein the person resides or wherein the business has been conducted, setting forth such disobedience to process or refusal to answer, and the court shall cite such person to appear before the court to answer such question or to produce such records and papers and, upon his refusal so to do, shall commit such person to a community correctional center until he testifies, but not for a longer period than sixty days. Notwithstanding the serving of the term of such commitment by any person, the department may proceed with such inquiry and examination as if the witness had not previously been called upon to testify. Officers who serve subpoenas issued by the department or under its authority and witnesses attending hearings conducted by it under this section shall receive like fees and compensation as officers and witnesses in the courts of this state to be paid on vouchers of the department on order of the Comptroller.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 30-8

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.