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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77256</law_id><section_number>8.01-216.17</section_number><catch_line>Civil investigative demands; custodian of documents; answers</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Actions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="19.1">Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall serve as custodian of <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span>, answers to <span class="dictionary">interrogatories</span>, and <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> of oral <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> received under this article. <a id="paragraph-277122" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-216.17/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> An investigator who receives any <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span>, answers to <span class="dictionary">interrogatories</span>, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> of oral <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> under this section shall transmit them to the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall take physical <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of such material, answers, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> and shall be responsible for the use made of them and for the return of <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span>. <a id="paragraph-277123" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-216.17/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may cause the preparation of such copies of <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span>, answers to <span class="dictionary">interrogatories</span>, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> of oral <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> as may be required for <span class="dictionary">official use</span> by any investigator, or other officer or <span class="dictionary">employee</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> or <span class="dictionary">employee</span> of the Department of State Police. Such material, answers, and <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> may be used by any authorized investigator or other officer or <span class="dictionary">employee</span> in connection with the taking of oral <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> under this article. <a id="paragraph-277124" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-216.17/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Except as otherwise provided in this section, no <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span>, answers to <span class="dictionary">interrogatories</span>, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> of oral <span class="dictionary">testimony</span>, or copies thereof, while in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, shall be available for examination by any individual other than an investigator or other officer or <span class="dictionary">employee</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> or <span class="dictionary">employee</span> of the Department of State Police authorized by the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>. The prohibition on the availability of material, answers, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> shall not apply if consent is given by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> who produced such material, answers, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span>, or, in the case of any <span class="dictionary">product of discovery</span> produced pursuant to an express demand for such material, consent is given by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> from whom the discovery was obtained. Nothing in this subsection is intended to prevent disclosure to the General Assembly, including any committee or subcommittee of the General Assembly, or to any other state agency for use by such agency in furtherance of its statutory responsibilities. <a id="paragraph-277125" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-216.17/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> While in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> and under such reasonable terms and conditions as the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall prescribe, (i) <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span> and answers to <span class="dictionary">interrogatories</span> shall be available for examination by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> who produced such material or answers, or by a representative of that <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized by that <span class="dictionary">person</span> to examine such material and answers, and (ii) <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> of oral <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> shall be available for examination by the <span class="dictionary">person</span> who produced such <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> or by a representative of that <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized by that <span class="dictionary">person</span> to examine such <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span>. <a id="paragraph-277126" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-216.17/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Any attorney employed by the Office of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> designated to appear before any <span class="dictionary">court</span>, <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>, or state agency in any case or proceeding may use any <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span>, answers to <span class="dictionary">interrogatories</span>, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> of oral <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> in connection with any such case or proceeding as such attorney determines to be required. Upon the completion of any such case or proceeding, such attorney shall return to the custodian any such material, answers, or <span class="dictionary">transcripts</span> so delivered that have not passed into the control of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>, or agency through introduction into the record of such case or proceeding. <a id="paragraph-277127" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-216.17/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> If any <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span> has been produced by any <span class="dictionary">person</span> in the course of any <span class="dictionary">investigation</span> pursuant to a civil investigative demand under this article, and (i) any case or proceeding before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> arising out of such <span class="dictionary">investigation</span>, or any proceeding before any state agency involving such material, has been completed, or (ii) 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 <span class="dictionary">documentary material</span> and other information assembled in the course of such <span class="dictionary">investigation</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall, upon written request of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> who produced such material, return to such <span class="dictionary">person</span> any material, other than copies furnished to the investigator, or made for the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> that has not passed into the control of any <span class="dictionary">court</span>, <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>, or agency through introduction into the record of such case or proceeding. <a id="paragraph-277128" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-216.17/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, c. 842; 2011, c. 676.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
