Tennessee § 50-7-703 - Subpoenas — Refusal to obey — Penalty.

§ 50-7-703. Subpoenas — Refusal to obey — Penalty.

In case of contumacy by or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person, any court of this state within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry is carried on, or within the jurisdiction of which the person guilty of contumacy or refusal to obey is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee, an unemployment hearing officer, or any duly authorized representative of any of them, shall have jurisdiction to issue to the person an order requiring that person to appear before the commissioner, the commissioner’s designee, an unemployment hearing officer, or any duly authorized representative of any of them, there to produce evidence if so ordered, or there to give testimony touching the matter under investigation or in question. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of the court, and, in addition to the contempt proceeding, any person who without just cause fails or refuses to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce books, papers, correspondence, memoranda and other records, if it is in the person's power so to do, in obedience to a subpoena of the commissioner, the commissioner’s designee, an unemployment hearing officer or any duly authorized representative of any of them, commits a Class C misdemeanor. Acts 1947, ch. 29, § 11; C. Supp. 1950, § 6901.11 (Williams, § 6901.35); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 50-1341; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 2003, ch. 191, § 8; 2010, ch. 1042, § 18. Cross-References. Court's power to punish for contempt, § 16-1-103 . Penalty for Class C misdemeanor, § 40-35-111 . Punishment for contempt, title 29, ch. 9. Law Reviews. When Telling the Truth Costs You Your Job: Tennessee's Employment-at-Will Doctrine and the Need for Change (Chad E. Wallace), 39 No. 4 Tenn. B.J. 18 (2003).