Cal. Civ. Code § 407.080
Interference with or avoidance of a civil investigative demand prohibited, penalty — attorney general to enforce
Operative Text
A person upon whom a civil investigative demand is served pursuant to the provisions of section 407.040 shall comply with the terms thereof unless otherwise provided by an order of a court. Any person who, with intent to avoid, evade, or prevent compliance, in whole or in part, with any civil investigative demand issued under section 407.040, removes from any place, conceals, withholds, or destroys, mutilates, alters, or by any other means falsifies any information, documentary material, or physical evidence in the possession, custody or control of any person, which is the subject of any such civil investigative demand shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. The attorney general shall have original jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this section.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 407.080, any person who receives a civil investigative demand issued by the attorney general under § 407.040 is legally required to comply with it unless a court orders otherwise. The provision makes it a class A misdemeanor to intentionally undermine such a demand by removing, hiding, destroying, altering, or falsifying any information, documents, or physical evidence covered by the demand. The Missouri Attorney General holds original jurisdiction to enforce this rule.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who receive a civil investigative demand under § 407.080 are generally expected to preserve all requested records, documents, and evidence in their original condition. Compliant operators typically refrain from discarding, relocating, or altering any materials that fall within the scope of such a demand. Because the Attorney General has original jurisdiction to enforce this provision, operators who receive such a demand often consult legal counsel promptly to understand their obligations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 407.080 is primarily directed at parties who receive civil investigative demands from the Missouri Attorney General, which can include landlords under investigation for consumer protection violations. If a tenant believes a landlord has destroyed or concealed records relevant to an ongoing investigation, that concern can generally be reported to the Missouri Attorney General's office, which holds enforcement authority under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations can also help renters understand how this rule fits into broader consumer protection investigations that may affect their housing situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation