Numerous state and federal agencies have authority to conduct investigations into possible violations of the laws they are charged to enforce. Such agencies include the Connecticut Attorney General, the Connecticut Commissioner of Consumer Protection, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Connecticut Department of Banking, the Connecticut Department of Labor, the United States Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, among others. Many of these investigations begin by the issuance of an investigative demand or subpoena for documents to the company being investigated. Many of these include demands for the production of documents containing confidential or sensitive commercial information. Lawyers at Hurwitz, Sagarin, Slossberg & Knuff, LLC are experienced in responding to these investigative demands, in seeking to limit the burden of production and protect the confidentiality of the information produced and in negotiating a resolution with the investigatory agency.
Matters in which HSSK attorneys have represented businesses in connection with state and federal investigations include:
- Represented national direct mail and online solicitation company in connection with investigation by the Connecticut Attorney General into possible deceptive or misleading communications to consumers.
- Represented national medical device manufacturer in investigation by the Connecticut Attorney General involving whether manufacturers had improperly influenced purchase decisions by excluding some purchases from seminars organized by an association of suppliers and large purchasers.
- Represented developer and operator of apartment complexes in investigation by Connecticut Commissioner of Consumer Protection into attempted improper charging of apartment tenants for water based on a ratio billing system, which was resolved by an issuance of voluntary compliance.
- Represented state hospital association in investigation by the United States Department of Justice into whether sharing of wage information violates the federal antitrust laws.
- Represented president of manufacturing company in investigation by the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
- Represented national brokerage firm in investigation by the Connecticut Attorney General into the alleged payment by major insurers of secret fees to brokers in return for placing the insurer’s products.
- Represented individual investigated by Connecticut Department of Banking for allegedly engaging in the unlicensed sale of mortgages.
