Missouri Laws 570.410 – Director of department of social services, attorney general — investigative ..
1. For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding relating to public assistance unlawfully received or an application for public assistance unlawfully tendered, the director of the department of social services or any officer designated by him or her or the attorney general for the state of Missouri or any officer designated by him or her may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take testimony, require answers to written interrogatories and require production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements or other documents or records which the director of the department or the attorney general deem relevant and material to the inquiry.
2. In the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the circuit court of any county of the state or the City of St. Louis, upon application by the department director or the attorney general may issue to the person an order requiring him or her to appear before the department director or the officer designated by him or her, or the attorney general or the officer designated by him or her, there to produce documentary evidence if so ordered or to give testimony or answer interrogatories touching the matter under investigation or in question in accordance with the forms and procedures otherwise authorized by the Rules of Civil Procedure. Failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 570.410
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
- Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Services: includes transportation, telephone, electricity, gas, water, or other public service, cable television service, video service, voice over internet protocol service, or internet service, accommodation in hotels, restaurants or elsewhere, admission to exhibitions and use of vehicles. See Missouri Laws 570.010
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
3. Information or documents obtained under this section by the director of the department or the attorney general shall not be disclosed except in the course of civil or criminal litigation or to another prosecutorial or investigative agency, or to the divisions of the department.
4. The offense of improper disclosure under this section is a class A misdemeanor.
5. The provisions of this section do not repeal existing provisions of law and shall be construed as supplementary thereto.