39.19.110 - Enforcement by attorney general -- Investigative powers.

Enforcement by attorney general — Investigative powers.

(1) Whenever the attorney general believes that any person (a) may be in possession, custody, or control of any original or copy of any book, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription, or other tangible document or recording, wherever situated, that the attorney general believes to be relevant to the subject matter of an investigation, the attorney general may require such person to answer written interrogatories or give oral testimony regarding a possible violation of this chapter, or of any provision of a contract as required by this chapter, or (b) may have knowledge of any information that the attorney general believes relevant to the subject matter of such an investigation, the attorney general may, before instituting a civil proceeding thereon, execute in writing and cause to be served upon such a person, a civil investigative demand requiring the person to produce the documentary material and permit inspection and copying, to answer in writing written interrogatories, to give oral testimony, or any combination of demands pertaining to the documentary material or information. Documents and information obtained under this section shall not be admissible in criminal prosecutions.

     (2) Each such demand shall:

     (a) State the statute, the alleged violation of which is under investigation, and the general subject matter of the investigation;

     (b) State with reasonable specificity what documentary material is required, if the demand is for the production of documentary material;

     (c) Prescribe a return date governed by the court rules within which the documentary material is to be produced, the answers to written interrogatories are to be made, or a date, time, and place at which oral testimony is to be taken; and

     (d) Identify the members of the attorney general's staff to whom such documentary material is to be made available for inspection and copying, to whom answers to written interrogatories are to be made, or who are to conduct the examination for oral testimony.

     (3) No such demand may:

     (a) Contain any requirement that would be unreasonable or improper if contained in a subpoena duces tecum, a request for answers to written interrogatories, or a notice of deposition upon oral examination issued under the court rules of this state; or

     (b) Require the disclosure of any documentary material which would be privileged, or which for any other reason would not be required by a subpoena duces tecum issued by a court of this state.

     (4) Service of any such demand may be made by:

     (a) Delivering a duly executed copy thereof to the person to be served, or, if that person is not a natural person, to any officer or managing agent of the person to be served;

     (b) Delivering a duly executed copy thereof to the principal place of business in this state of the person to be served; or

     (c) Mailing by registered or certified mail a duly executed copy thereof addressed to the person to be served at the principal place of business in this state, or, if that person has no place of business in this state, to the person's principal office or place of business.

     (5)(a) Documentary material demanded under this section shall be produced for inspection and copying during normal business hours at the principal office or place of business of the person served, or at such other times and places as may be agreed upon by the person served and the attorney general;

     (b) Written interrogatories in a demand served under this section shall be answered in the same manner as provided in the civil rules for superior court;

     (c) The oral testimony of any person obtained pursuant to a demand served under this section shall be taken in the same manner as provided in the civil rules for superior court for the taking of depositions. In the course of the deposition, the assistant attorney general conducting the examination may exclude all persons other than the person being examined, the person's counsel, and the officer before whom the testimony is to be taken from the place where the examination is held;

     (d) Any person compelled to appear pursuant to a demand for oral testimony under this section may be accompanied by counsel;

     (e) The oral testimony of any person obtained pursuant to a demand served under this section shall be taken in the county within which the person resides, is found, or transacts business, or in such other place as may be agreed upon between the person served and the attorney general.

     (6) No documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony produced pursuant to a demand, or copies thereof, may, unless otherwise ordered by a superior court for good cause shown, be produced for inspection or copying by, nor may the contents thereof be disclosed to, anyone other than an authorized employee or agent of the attorney general, without the consent of the person who produced such material, answered written interrogatories, or gave oral testimony: PROVIDED, That under such reasonable terms and conditions as the attorney general shall prescribe, the copies of such documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony shall be available for inspection and copying by the person who produced the material, answered written interrogatories, or gave oral testimony, or any duly authorized representative of that person. The attorney general or any assistant attorney general may use such copies of documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony as he or she determines necessary to enforce this chapter, including presentation before any court: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any such material, answers to written interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony that contain material designated by the declarant to be trade secrets shall not be presented except with the approval of the court in which the action is pending after adequate notice to the person furnishing the material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony.

     (7) At any time before the return date specified in the demand, or within twenty days after the demand has been served, whichever period is shorter, a petition to extend the return date for, or to modify or set aside a demand issued pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, stating good cause, may be filed in the superior court for Thurston county, or in any other county where the parties reside or are found. A petition, by the person on whom the demand is served, stating good cause, to require the attorney general or any person to perform any duty imposed by this section, and all other petitions in connection with a demand, may be filed in the superior court for Thurston county, or in the county where the parties reside. The court shall have jurisdiction to impose such sanctions as are provided for in the civil rules for superior court with respect to discovery motions.

     (8) Whenever any person fails to comply with any civil investigative demand for documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony duly served upon that person under this section, or whenever satisfactory copying or reproduction of any such material cannot be done and the person refuses to surrender such material, the attorney general may file, in the trial court of general jurisdiction in the county in which the person resides, is found, or transacts business, and serve upon that person a petition for an order of the court for the enforcement of this section, except that if such person transacts business in more than one county, the petition shall be filed in the county in which the person maintains his or her principal place of business or in such other county as may be agreed upon by the parties to the petition. Whenever any petition is filed under this section in the trial court of general jurisdiction in any county, the court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter so presented and to enter such order or orders as may be required to carry into effect this section, and may impose such sanctions as are provided for in the civil rules for superior court with respect to discovery motions.

[1987 c 328 § 13.]