2004 Minnesota Statutes

     27.13 Investigation of complaints; suspension or 
  revocation of license. 

    The commissioner is authorized to receive complaints 
 against any persons dealing in, shipping, transporting, storing, 
 or selling produce, and shall have authority to make any and all 
 necessary investigations relative to the handling of, or 
 storing, shipping, or dealing in produce at wholesale and shall, 
 at all times, have access to all buildings, yards, warehouses, 
 storage and transportation facilities in which any produce is 
 kept, stored, handled or transacted.  For the purpose of 
 enforcing the provisions of sections 27.01 to 27.14 and 27.19, 
 the commissioner shall have the authority, upon complaint being 
 filed for any alleged violation of the provisions thereof, or 
 the rules issued thereunder, or upon information furnished by an 
 inspector of the Department of Agriculture, to suspend while 
 violation continues or revoke any license issued by the 
 commissioner upon ten days notice to the licensee and an 
 opportunity to be heard.  Where the public interest requires it 
 the commissioner may suspend a license after such notice pending 
 hearing and decision.  The commissioner shall have, and is 
 hereby granted, full authority to issue subpoenas requiring the 
 attendance of witnesses before the commissioner, with books, 
 papers, and other documents, articles, or instruments, and to 
 compel the disclosure by such witnesses of all facts known to 
 them relative to the matter under investigation, and shall have 
 full authority to administer oaths and to take testimony; and 
 the commissioner shall thereafter give the complainant a written 
 report of the investigation.  Such report shall be prima facie 
 evidence of the matters therein contained.  All parties 
 disobeying the orders or subpoenas of the commissioner shall be 
 guilty of contempt as in proceedings in district courts of the 
 state and may be punished in like manner.  

    HIST: (6240-18 1/2l) 1931 c 394 s 13; 1955 c 232 s 2; 1961 c 
 113 s 1; 1961 c 163 s 6; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 7 
 art 1 s 12