Common use of Refusal to Testify Clause in Contracts

Refusal to Testify. 10.11.1 The Consultant agrees to cooperate fully and faithfully with any investigation, audit or inquiry conducted by a State or City governmental agency or authority that is empowered, directly or by designation, to compel the attendance of witnesses and to examine witnesses under oath, or conducted by the Inspector General of a governmental agency that is a party in interest to the transaction, submitted bid, submitted proposal, contract, lease, permit, or license that is the subject of the investigation, audit or inquiry. 10.11.2 If: (i) any person who has been advised that her or his statement, and any information from such statement, will not be used against her or him in any subsequent criminal proceeding refuses to testify before a grand jury or other governmental agency or authority empowered directly or by designation to compel the attendance of witnesses and to examine witnesses under oath concerning the award of, or performance under, any transaction, agreement, lease, permit, contract, or license entered into with the City, the State, or any political subdivision or public authority thereof, or the PANYNJ, or the Owner, or any local development corporation within the City, or any public benefit corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, or (ii) any person refuses to testify for a reason other than the assertion of her or his privilege against self- incrimination in an investigation, audit or inquiry conducted by a City or State governmental agency or authority empowered directly or by designation to compel the attendance of witnesses and to take testimony under oath, or by the Inspector General of the governmental agency that is a party in interest in, and is seeking testimony concerning the award of, or performance under, any transaction, agreement, lease, permit, contract, or license entered into with the City, the State, or any political subdivision thereof, or the Owner, or any local development corporation within the City, then the commissioner or agency head (each of which is hereinafter referred to as the “Commissioner”) whose agency is a party in interest to the transaction, submitted bid, submitted proposal, contract, lease, permit, or license involved in such investigation, audit or inquiry shall convene a hearing, upon not less than five (5) days written notice to the parties involved, to determine if any penalties should attach for the failure of a person to testify. 10.11.3 If any non-governmental party to the hearing requests an adjournment, the Commissioner who convened the hearing or the Owner may, upon the Commissioner granting the adjournment, suspend any contract, lease, permit, or license pending the final determination pursuant to subsection 10.11.5 below without the City or the Owner incurring any penalty or damages for delay or otherwise. 10.11.4 The Owner or the City may impose the following penalties after a final determination by the Commissioner that penalties should attach for the failure of a person to testify: (i) the disqualification for a period not to exceed five (5) years from the date of an adverse determination of any person, or any entity of which such person was a member at the time the testimony was sought, from submitting bids for, or transacting business with, or entering into or obtaining any contract, lease, permit or license with or from the City or the Owner, as the case may be; and/or (ii) the cancellation or termination of any and all such existing City or Owner contracts, leases, permits or licenses that the refusal to testify concerns and that have not been assigned as permitted under this Contract, nor the proceeds of which pledged, to an unaffiliated and unrelated institutional lender for fair value prior to the issuance of the notice scheduling the hearing, without the City or the Owner incurring any penalty or damages on account of such cancellation or termination; monies lawfully due for goods delivered, work done, rentals, or fees accrued prior to the cancellation or termination shall be paid by the City or the Owner, as the case may be. 10.11.5 The Commissioner shall consider and address, in reaching her or his determination, and the Owner and the Commissioner shall consider and address, in assessing an appropriate penalty, the factors in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) below. The Commissioner and the Owner may also consider, if relevant and appropriate, the criteria established in subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) below in addition to any other information which may be relevant and appropriate: (i) The entity’s good faith endeavors or lack thereof to cooperate fully and faithfully with any governmental investigation or audit, including, but not limited to, the discipline, discharge, or disassociation of any person failing to testify, the production of accurate and complete books and records, and the forthcoming testimony of all other members, agents, assignees or fiduciaries whose testimony is sought. (ii) The relationship of the person who refused to testify to any entity that is a party to the hearing, including, but not limited to, whether the person whose testimony is sought has an ownership interest in the entity and/or the degree of authority and responsibility the person has within the entity. (iii) The nexus of the testimony sought to the subject entity and its contracts, leases, permits or licenses with the City or the Owner. (iv) The effect a penalty may have on an unaffiliated and unrelated party or entity that has a significant interest in an entity (subject to penalties under subsection 10.11.4 above), provided that the party or entity has given actual notice to the Commissioner upon the acquisition of the interest, or at the hearing called for in subsection 10.11.2(2) above gives notice and proves that such interest was previously acquired. Under either circumstance the party or entity must present evidence at the hearing demonstrating the potential adverse impact a penalty will have on such person or entity.