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.
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 27.13
- 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.
- Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(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.