TCA § 71-1-116 — Judicial enforcement of subpoena — Notice — Inspection of employment records and credit bureau reports

If a person, firm, or corporation subpoenaed pursuant to authority granted pursuant to § 71-1-105(a)(17)(A) fails to comply with the subpoena, after reasonable notice to the person, firm, or corporation, the department may seek judicial enforcement of the subpoena by filing, through the attorney general and reporter, a petition with the circuit or chancery court of Davidson County or of the judicial district in which such person, firm, or corporation resides. A petition filed pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) must incorporate or be accompanied by a certification regarding the notice given and the failure of such person, firm, or corporation to attend or produce the items requested. Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) in the proper form, the court shall order the person, firm, or corporation named in the petition to appear and show cause why the person, firm, or corporation should not be required to comply with the subpoena or be held in contempt for failure to comply. The court may employ all judicial power provided by law to compel compliance with a subpoena requested pursuant to subdivision (a)(1), including the powers granted in §§ 29-9-103 — 29-9-106. The court is authorized to impose costs and sanctions against any person, firm, or corporation against whom a petition is filed pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) in the same manner and on the same bases as may be imposed for failure to comply with judicially issued subpoenas under the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. The court may order the person, firm, or corporation to comply with the subpoena and may punish each day of noncompliance with the order as a separate contempt of court. The subpoena enforcement remedies set forth in subdivision (a)(3) are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law. Employment records, as defined in § 71-1-105(a)(17)(B), shall be open to inspection and copying by a department representative at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary. The department shall also have the right to compare information reported to the department by applicants or recipients with data maintained by the credit bureaus.