Connecticut General Statutes 42-146 – Commissioner’s powers to enforce
(a) In the discharge of the duties imposed by this chapter: (1) The commissioner or his duly authorized agent or agents shall at all reasonable times have access to records and documentary evidence of any person being investigated for the purposes of examining such records and documentary evidence and making copies thereof; and (2) the commissioner shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations and to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of records, correspondence, documents or other evidence in connection therewith.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 42-146
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. See Connecticut General Statutes 42-144
- 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.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: includes any natural person, or his legal representative, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, whether domestic or foreign, company, trust, business entity or association, and any agent, employee, salesman, partner, officer, director, member, stockholder, associate, trustee or cestui que trust thereof. See Connecticut General Statutes 42-144
- Services: includes any supply of accommodations, work, repair or other needs, instruction or education, including any type of training course in any field such as personality improvement, self motivation, salesmanship and similar fields. See Connecticut General Statutes 42-144
- 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.
(b) In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person, the Superior Court, upon application by the commissioner, shall have jurisdiction to order such person to appear and produce evidence or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation or in question, and any failure to obey such order may be punished by said court as a contempt thereof. No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, records, correspondence, documents or other evidence in obedience to the subpoena of the commissioner, on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture; but no individual shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which he is compelled, after having claimed his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, except that such individual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying. Complaints, orders and other processes and papers of the commissioner may be served personally, by registered or certified mail, by telegraph or by leaving a copy thereof at the principal office or place of business of the person required to be served. The verified return of service shall be proof of such service. Witnesses summoned by the commissioner shall be paid the same fees and mileage allowances that are paid witnesses in the courts of this state, and witnesses whose depositions are taken and the person taking the same shall severally be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of this state. All processes of any court to which an application or petition may be made under this chapter may be served in the judicial district wherein the person or persons required to be served reside or may be found.
(c) Any person who, without just cause, fails to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce records, correspondence, documents or other evidence, if it is within his power to do so, in obedience to a subpoena issued to him under this section, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars and imprisoned not more than six months or both.