N.Y. Judiciary Law 476-C – Investigation by the attorney-general
§ 476-c. Investigation by the attorney-general. 1. The attorney-general is empowered to conduct an investigation of any complaint of unlawful practice of the law and in connection therewith, the attorney-general, his deputy, assistant, special assistant or other officer designated by him for such purpose is empowered to subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, examine them under oath before him or the supreme court of the state of New York, or a justice thereof, and require the production of any books or papers which he deems relevant or material to the inquiry. Such power of subpoena and of examination shall not abate or terminate by reason of the commencement or pendency of any action or proceeding brought by the attorney-general under section four hundred seventy-six-a.
Terms Used In N.Y. Judiciary Law 476-C
- 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.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- unlawful practice of the law: as used in this article shall include, but is not limited to,
(a) any act prohibited by penal law sections two hundred seventy, two hundred seventy-a, two hundred seventy-e, two hundred seventy-one, two hundred seventy-five, two hundred seventy-five-a, two hundred seventy-six, two hundred eighty or fourteen hundred fifty-two, or
(b) any other act forbidden by law to be done by any person not regularly licensed and admitted to practice law in this state, or
(c) any act punishable by the supreme court as a criminal contempt of court under section seven hundred fifty-B of this chapter. See N.Y. Judiciary Law 476-A
2. No person shall be excused from attending such inquiry in pursuance to the mandates of a subpoena, or from producing a paper or book, or from being examined or required to answer a question on the ground of failure of tender or payment of a witness fee or mileage, unless at the time of such appearance or production, as the case may be, such witness makes demand for such payment as a condition precedent to the offering of testimony or production required by the subpoena and unless such payment is not thereupon made. Such provisions for payment of witness fee or mileage do not apply to any officer, director or person in the employ of any person, partnership, corporation, company, trust or association whose conduct or practices are being investigated.
3. It shall be the duty of all public officers, their deputies, assistants, subordinates, clerks or employees and all other persons to render and furnish to the attorney-general, his deputy or other designated officer when requested all information and assistance in their possession or within their power. Any officer participating in such inquiry who shall disclose to any person other than the attorney-general the name of any witness examined or any other information obtained upon such inquiry except as directed by the attorney-general shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.