2023 Minnesota Statutes

27.13 INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS.

(a) The commissioner is authorized to: (1) receive complaints against any person dealing in, shipping, transporting, storing, or selling perishable farm products; (2) make any and all necessary investigations relative to the handling of, or storing, shipping, or dealing in perishable farm products; and (3) enter with reasonable notice all buildings, yards, warehouses, storage and transportation facilities in which perishable farm products are kept, stored, handled or transacted.

(b) The commissioner may: (1) issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses before the commissioner, with books, papers, and other documents, articles, or instruments; (2) compel the disclosure by such witnesses of all facts known to them relative to a matter under investigation; and (3) administer oaths and take testimony.

(c) The commissioner must provide a complainant a written report of the investigation conducted under this section. The report is prima facie evidence of the matters contained in the report. A party violating a commissioner's order or subpoena is guilty of contempt as in proceedings in district courts of the state and may be punished in like manner.

History:

(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; 2020 c 89 art 1 s 12