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What to Do if You Disagree With the Premise of an FTC Civil Investigative Demand
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What to Do If You Disagree With an FTC Civil Investigative Demand
Receiving a civil investigative demand (CID) from the Federal Trade Commission can feel intimidating. You may disagree with the premise of the investigation or feel the requests are overly broad. Fortunately, you have options.
Understand the Investigation
The first step is to understand why you received the CID. The FTC attorney listed on the CID can explain the nature and purpose of the investigation if you ask. This context will help you determine the best response strategy 4.
Seek Legal Counsel
Engaging an attorney experienced with FTC investigations is highly recommended when responding to a CID 9.
Request an Extension
If meeting the CID deadline seems unrealistic, you can request an extension from the FTC 8.
Comply Completely
The FTC expects full compliance with CIDs. If you fail to comply, they may file a federal court action to enforce the demand 5 18.
Seek Judicial Intervention
In some circumstances, you may be able to seek court intervention regarding specific aspects of a CID. However, courts generally defer to the FTC’s broad investigative authority 24.