Ohio Code § 4722.06

§ 4722.06.

(A) If, by the attorney general's own inquiries or as a result of complaints, the attorney

general has reasonable cause to believe that a person has engaged or is engaging in

an act or practice that violates this chapter, the attorney general may investigate. (B) For this purpose, the attorney general may administer oaths, subpoena witnesses,

adduce evidence, and require the production of relevant matter. If matter that the attorney general requires to be produced is located outside the

state, the attorney general may designate representatives, including officials of

the state in which the matter is located, to inspect the matter on the attorney general's

behalf, and the attorney general may respond to similar requests from officials of

other states.  The person subpoenaed may make the matter available to the attorney general at a

convenient location within the state or pay the reasonable and necessary expenses

for the attorney general or the attorney general's representative to examine the matter

at the place where it is located, provided that expenses shall not be charged to a

party not subsequently found to have engaged in an act or practice violative of this

chapter. (C) Within twenty days after a subpoena has been served, a motion to extend the return

day, or to modify or quash the subpoena, stating good cause, may be filed in the court

of common pleas of Franklin county or the county in which the person served resides

or has the person's principal place of business. (D) A person subpoenaed under this section shall comply with the terms of the subpoena,

unless the parties agree to modify the terms of the subpoena or unless the court has

modified or quashed the subpoena, extended the return day of the subpoena, or issued

any other order with respect to the subpoena prior to its return day. If a person fails without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena or to produce relevant

matter, the attorney general may apply to the court of common pleas of the county

in which the person subpoenaed resides or has the person's principal place of business

for an order compelling compliance. (E) The attorney general may request that an individual who refuses to testify or to

produce relevant matter on the ground that the testimony or matter may incriminate

the individual be ordered by the court to provide the testimony or matter.  With the exception of a prosecution for perjury and an action for damages under

this chapter, an individual who complies with a court order to provide testimony or

matter, after asserting a privilege against self-incrimination to which the individual

is entitled by law, shall not be subjected to a criminal proceeding or to a civil

penalty or forfeiture on the basis of the testimony or matter required to be disclosed

or testimony or matter discovered through that testimony or matter. (F) The attorney general may: (1) During an investigation under this section, afford, in a manner considered appropriate

to the attorney general, a supplier an opportunity to cease and desist from any suspected

violation.  The attorney general may suspend the investigation during the time period that the

attorney general permits the supplier to cease and desist;  however, the suspension

of the investigation or the affording of an opportunity to cease and desist shall

not prejudice or prohibit any further investigation by the attorney general under

this section. (2) Terminate an investigation under this section upon acceptance of a written assurance

of voluntary compliance from a supplier who is suspected of a violation of this chapter. Acceptance of an assurance may be conditioned upon an undertaking to reimburse or

to take other appropriate action with respect to identifiable owners damaged by an

alleged violation of this chapter.  An assurance of compliance given by a supplier is not evidence of violation of this

chapter.  The attorney general may, at any time, reopen an investigation terminated by the

acceptance of an assurance of voluntary compliance, if the attorney general believes

that further proceedings are in the public interest.  Evidence of a violation of an assurance of voluntary compliance is prima-facie evidence

of an act or practice in violation of this chapter, if presented after the violation

in an action brought under this chapter.  An assurance of voluntary compliance may be filed with the court and if approved

by the court, entered as a consent judgment. (G) The procedures available to the attorney general under this section are cumulative

and concurrent, and the exercise of one procedure by the attorney general does not

preclude or require the exercise of any other procedure.