§1411. Investigative demands

A. When the attorney general has evidence that a person has engaged in or is engaged in any method, act, or practice declared to be unlawful by this Chapter and he believes it to be in the public interest that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether a person in fact has engaged in or is engaging in any act or practice declared to be unlawful, the attorney general may execute in writing and cause to be served by the sheriff or a post-certified commissioned law enforcement officer employed by the attorney general or through long-arm to a foreign corporation upon any person who is believed to have information, documentary material, or physical evidence relevant to the alleged or suspected violation, an investigative demand. Such investigative demand shall contain a description of the unlawful method, act, or practice under investigation and shall require such person to furnish, under oath or otherwise, a report in writing setting forth the relevant facts and circumstances of which he has knowledge, or to produce relevant documentary material or physical evidence for examination, at such reasonable time and place as may be stated in the investigative demand, concerning the advertisement, sale, or offering for sale of any goods or services or the conduct of any trade or commerce that is the subject matter of the investigation.

B. At any time before the return date specified in the investigative demand, or within twenty days after the demand has been served, whichever is shorter, a petition stating good cause for a protective order to extend the return date, or to modify or set aside the demand, may be filed in the district court having civil jurisdiction in the parish where the person served with the demand resides or is domiciled or has his principal place of business.

C. If no protective order from the court is secured and the written request by the attorney general is not complied with by the return date thereof, the attorney general may apply to the court for an order compelling compliance with the demand under R.S. 51:1413.

Added by Acts 1972, No. 759, §1; Acts 2006, No. 218, §1, eff. June 2, 2006.