FTC v. American Tobacco Co.
Supreme Court
264 U.S. 298 (1924)
Relevant factsFree
The FTC (plaintiff) opened an investigation into the tobacco industry and petitioned the district court to compel American Tobacco Company (defendant) to produce correspondence between the company and its wholesalers; the district court denied the FTC's petition.
IssueFree
Whether an administrative agency may compel production of private business documents in an investigation without some evidentiary showing that the documents sought are material to the inquiry.