Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§5713 Disobedience to subpoena
Title 38 › Part PART IV— - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Chapter CHAPTER 57— - RECORDS AND INVESTIGATIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - INVESTIGATIONS › § 5713
Summary
When someone refuses to follow a subpoena, a federal district court can be asked to make them come, testify, or turn over documents. The court handling the inquiry can order a company or any person (including officers, agents, or employees) to appear or give evidence. If they still refuse, the court can punish them for contempt.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §5713
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In case of disobedience to any such subpoena, the aid of any district court of the United States may be invoked in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence, and such court within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry is carried on may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any officer, agent, or employee of any corporation or to any other person, issue an order requiring such corporation or other person to appear or to give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3313 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–54 amended section as in effect immediately before the enactment of Pub. L. 102–40 by substituting “subpoena” for “subpena” in section catchline and in two places in text.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 5713
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73