Florida Statutes 634.438 – Prohibited practices; hearings; procedure; service of process
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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 634.438
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Person: includes an individual, company, corporation, association, insurer, agent, and any other legal entity. See Florida Statutes 634.401
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- Service warranty: means any warranty, guaranty, extended warranty or extended guaranty, maintenance service contract equal to or greater than 1 year in length or which does not meet the exemption in paragraph (a), 1contract agreement, or other written promise for a specific duration to perform the repair, replacement, or maintenance of a consumer product, or for indemnification for repair, replacement, or maintenance, for operational or structural failure due to a defect in materials or workmanship, normal wear and tear, power surge, or accidental damage from handling in return for the payment of a segregated charge by the consumer; however:(a) Maintenance service contracts written for less than 1 year which do not contain provisions for indemnification and which do not provide a discount to the consumer for any combination of parts and labor in excess of 20 percent during the effective period of such contract, motor vehicle service agreements, transactions exempt under…. See Florida Statutes 634.401
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
(1) Whenever the department or office has reason to believe that any person has engaged, or is engaging, in this state in any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice as defined in s. 634.436, or is engaging in the business of service warranty without being properly licensed as required by this part, and that a proceeding by the department or office in respect thereto would be in the interest of the public, the department or office shall conduct or cause to have conducted a hearing in accordance with chapter 120.(2) The department or office, a duly empowered hearing officer, or an administrative law judge shall, during the conduct of such hearing, have those powers enumerated in s. 120.569; however, the penalty for failure to comply with a subpoena or with an order directing discovery is limited to a fine not to exceed $1,000 per violation.(3) A statement of charges, notice, or order under this part may be served by anyone duly authorized by the department or office, either in the manner provided by law for service of process in civil actions or by certifying and mailing a copy thereof to the person affected by such statement, notice, order, or other process at her or his or its residence or principal office or place of business. The verified return by the person so serving such statement, notice, order, or other process, setting forth the manner of the service, is proof of the same; and the return postcard receipt for such statement, notice, order, or other process, certified and mailed as provided in this subsection, is proof of service of the same.