The attorney general and reporter has the power to employ such personnel as may be necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, and the attorney general and reporter, or the attorney general’s designee, shall:

(1) Serve as the central coordinating agency for receiving complaints by Tennessee consumers or about Tennessee businesses regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices;

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 47-18-5002

  • Attorney general: means the office of the Tennessee attorney general and reporter. See Tennessee Code 47-18-2102
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Person: means a natural person, consumer, individual, governmental agency, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, incorporated or unincorporated association, and any other legal or commercial entity however organized. See Tennessee Code 47-18-2102
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(2) Provide copies to, or otherwise notify, the persons identified in the complaints as engaging in unfair or deceptive practices and allowing them an opportunity to respond, within a reasonable time, to the division with, if appropriate, a proposal to resolve the complaint. Upon receiving a response, the division may share the response with the complainant and may facilitate additional communication between the person identified in the complaint and the complainant in an effort to encourage a mutually agreeable resolution;
(3) Report annually to the general assembly on the activities of the division. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a statement of the investigatory and enforcement procedures and policies of the division, as well as a statement of the number of complaints filed and of investigations or enforcement proceedings instituted and of their disposition. The report shall not identify any person who has not been otherwise publicly identified in enforcement proceedings unless such person consents to identification. The report may include recommendations for proposed legislation designed to remedy specific unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of this subdivision (3), the director of consumer affairs appointed pursuant to § 47-18-5001 shall provide a written report and testify annually to the commerce and labor committee of the senate and the commerce committee of the house of representatives. The reports made pursuant to this subdivision (3) must be submitted no later than February 1 of each year;
(4) Lend assistance to any district attorney general who elects to criminally prosecute any person for any criminal act or practice directed against the consuming public; and
(5) Promote consumer education and inform the public of policies, decisions, and legislation affecting consumers.
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