Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 15 : Section 1313


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 1313. Custodian of documents, answers and transcripts

    (a) Designation
      The Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust
    Division of the Department of Justice shall designate an antitrust
    investigator to serve as custodian of documentary material, answers
    to interrogatories, and transcripts of oral testimony received
    under this chapter, and such additional antitrust investigators as
    he shall determine from time to time to be necessary to serve as
    deputies to such officer.
    (b) Production of materials
      Any person, upon whom any demand under section 1312 of this title
    for the production of documentary material has been duly served,
    shall make such material available for inspection and copying or
    reproduction to the custodian designated therein at the principal
    place of business of such person (or at such other place as such
    custodian and such person thereafter may agree and prescribe in
    writing or as the court may direct, pursuant to section 1314(d)
    (!1) of this title) on the return date specified in such demand (or
    on such later date as such custodian may prescribe in writing).
    Such person may upon written agreement between such person and the
    custodian substitute copies for originals of all or any part of
    such material.

    (c) Responsibility for materials; disclosure
      (1) The custodian to whom any documentary material, answers to
    interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony are delivered
    shall take physical possession thereof, and shall be responsible
    for the use made thereof and for the return of documentary
    material, pursuant to this chapter.
      (2) The custodian may cause the preparation of such copies of
    such documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or
    transcripts of oral testimony as may be required for official use
    by any duly authorized official, employee, or agent of the
    Department of Justice under regulations which shall be promulgated
    by the Attorney General. Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of this
    subsection, such material, answers, and transcripts may be used by
    any such official, employee, or agent in connection with the taking
    of oral testimony pursuant to this chapter.
      (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, while in the
    possession of the custodian, no documentary material, answers to
    interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony, or copies
    thereof, so produced shall be available for examination, without
    the consent of the person who produced such material, answers, or
    transcripts, and, in the case of any product of discovery produced
    pursuant to an express demand for such material, of the person from
    whom the discovery was obtained, by any individual other than a
    duly authorized official, employee, or agent of the Department of
    Justice. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent disclosure
    to either body of the Congress or to any authorized committee or
    subcommittee thereof.
      (4) While in the possession of the custodian and under such
    reasonable terms and conditions as the Attorney General shall
    prescribe, (A) documentary material and answers to interrogatories
    shall be available for examination by the person who produced such
    material or answers, or by any duly authorized representative of
    such person, and (B) transcripts of oral testimony shall be
    available for examination by the person who produced such
    testimony, or his counsel.
    (d) Use of investigative files
      (1) Whenever any attorney of the Department of Justice has been
    designated to appear before any court, grand jury, or Federal
    administrative or regulatory agency in any case or proceeding, the
    custodian of any documentary material, answers to interrogatories,
    or transcripts of oral testimony may deliver to such attorney such
    material, answers, or transcripts for official use in connection
    with any such case, grand jury, or proceeding as such attorney
    determines to be required. Upon the completion of any such case,
    grand jury, or proceeding, such attorney shall return to the
    custodian any such material, answers, or transcripts so delivered
    which have not passed into the control of such court, grand jury,
    or agency through the introduction thereof into the record of such
    case or proceeding.
      (2) The custodian of any documentary material, answers to
    interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony may deliver to
    the Federal Trade Commission, in response to a written request,
    copies of such material, answers, or transcripts for use in
    connection with an investigation or proceeding under the
    Commission's jurisdiction. Such material, answers, or transcripts
    may only be used by the Commission in such manner and subject to
    such conditions as apply to the Department of Justice under this
    chapter.
    (e) Return of material to producer
      If any documentary material has been produced in the course of
    any antitrust investigation by any person pursuant to a demand
    under this chapter and - 
        (1) any case or proceeding before any court or grand jury
      arising out of such investigation, or any proceeding before any
      Federal administrative or regulatory agency involving such
      material, has been completed, or
        (2) no case or proceeding, in which such material may be used,
      has been commenced within a reasonable time after completion of
      the examination and analysis of all documentary material and
      other information assembled in the course of such investigation,

    the custodian shall, upon written request of the person who
    produced such material, return to such person any such material
    (other than copies thereof furnished to the custodian pursuant to
    subsection (b) of this section or made by the Department of Justice
    pursuant to subsection (c) of this section) which has not passed
    into the control of any court, grand jury, or agency through the
    introduction thereof into the record of such case or proceeding.
    (f) Appointment of successor custodians
      In the event of the death, disability, or separation from service
    in the Department of Justice of the custodian of any documentary
    material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of oral
    testimony produced under any demand issued pursuant to this
    chapter, or the official relief of such custodian from
    responsibility for the custody and control of such material,
    answers, or transcripts, the Assistant Attorney General in charge
    of the Antitrust Division shall promptly (1) designate another
    antitrust investigator to serve as custodian of such material,
    answers, or transcripts, and (2) transmit in writing to the person
    who produced such material, answers, or testimony notice as to the
    identity and address of the successor so designated. Any successor
    designated under this subsection shall have with regard to such
    material, answers, or transcripts all duties and responsibilities
    imposed by this chapter upon his predecessor in office with regard
    thereto, except that he shall not be held responsible for any
    default or dereliction which occurred prior to his designation.



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