Cal. Civ. Code § 407.090
Attorney general may request court order to produce evidentiary material — request filed where
Operative Text
Whenever any person fails to comply with any civil investigative demand duly served upon him under section 407.040 or whenever satisfactory copying or reproduction of any such material cannot be done and such person refuses to surrender such material, the attorney general, through such officers or attorneys as he may designate, may file, in the trial court of general jurisdiction of a county or judicial district in which such person resides, is found, or transacts business, and serve upon such person a petition for an order of such court for the enforcement of such civil investigative demand; except that, if such person transacts business in more than one county or judicial district such petition shall be filed in the county or judicial district in which such person maintains his principal place of business, or in such other county or judicial district as may be agreed upon by the parties to such petition. Whenever any petition is filed in the trial court of general jurisdiction of a county or judicial district under this section, such court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter so presented, and to enter such order or orders as may be required to carry into effect the provisions of section 407.040. Any final order so entered shall be subject to appeal to the state supreme court. Any disobedience of any final order entered under this section by any court shall be punished as a contempt thereof.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 407.090, when a person fails to comply with a civil investigative demand issued under the state's consumer-protection statutes, or refuses to surrender materials that cannot otherwise be adequately copied, the attorney general is authorized to seek a court order compelling compliance. The petition must be filed in the trial court of general jurisdiction where the person lives, is found, or does business—or, if business is conducted in multiple locations, where the principal place of business is located. Any final court order issued under this provision can be appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, and defying such a final order may be treated as contempt of court.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who receive a civil investigative demand under Missouri's consumer-protection laws should be aware that § 407.090 gives the attorney general a direct path to court if the demand goes unanswered or if required materials are withheld. Operators who conduct business in multiple counties should note that venue for any enforcement petition would generally be the county where the principal place of business is located, unless the parties agree otherwise. Maintaining organized records and responding promptly to any duly served investigative demand are practices consistent with compliance under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 407.090 primarily governs the attorney general's enforcement tools rather than individual tenant rights, tenants should understand that this provision empowers the state to compel landlords or other businesses to produce evidence during a consumer-protection investigation. If a tenant believes a landlord's practices may violate Missouri's consumer-protection statutes, they can contact the Missouri Attorney General's office, which has the authority under this section to pursue documentary evidence through the courts. Tenant-rights organizations can also help individuals understand how state investigative processes may relate to 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