2018 Maryland Code
Labor and Employment
Title 9 - Workers' Compensation
Subtitle 7 - Claims Procedure, Hearings, and Appeals
§ 9-717. Noncompliance by witness
(a) Application to circuit court. -- If, without reasonable cause, a witness refuses to produce a document or to testify in accordance with an order of the Commission, the Commission may and, on request of a party to the proceeding, shall apply to a circuit court for an order to show cause.
(b) Show-cause order. -- On proof by affidavit that a witness has refused to produce a document or testify in accordance with an order of the Commission, the circuit court shall pass an order, returnable within 2 to 5 days, that directs the witness to show cause why the witness should not be imprisoned.
(c) Show-cause hearing. --
(1) On return of the order, the circuit court shall conduct a hearing to determine if the witness, without reasonable cause or legal excuse, refused to testify or provide a document in accordance with an order of the Commission.
(2) The circuit court shall:
(i) examine the witness under oath; and
(ii) give the witness an opportunity to be heard.
(3) If the circuit court finds that the witness, without reasonable cause or legal excuse, refused to produce a document or testify in accordance with an order of the Commission, the circuit court may have the witness immediately imprisoned until the witness:
(i) produces the document or testifies; or
(ii) is discharged in accordance with law.