Section 139-C. Removal of disqualification of public contractors by petition  


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  • 1. Any firm,  partnership  or  corporation  which  has  become
      subject   to   the   cancellation   or  termination  of  a  contract  or
      disqualification to contract on account of  the  refusal  of  a  member,
      partner,  director  or  officer thereof to waive immunity when called to
      testify, as provided in  sections  one  hundred  thirty-nine-a  and  one
      hundred thirty-nine-b of this article, may, upon ten days' notice to the
      attorney  general  and  to  the  officer who conducted the investigation
      before the grand jury, the head of a state department, the  chairman  of
      the  temporary  state commission or other state agency, or the organized
      crime task force in the department of law in which the refusal occurred,
      commence a special proceeding at a special term  of  the  supreme  court
      held  within  the judicial district in which the refusal occurred for an
      order discontinuing the disqualification. The petition shall  set  forth
      grounds,  including  that  the  cooperation by petitioner with the grand
      jury or other body which conducted the investigation at the time of  the
      refusal  was  such,  and  the amount and degree of control and financial
      interest, if any, in the petitioning firm, partnership or corporation by
      the member, partner, officer or director who refused to  waive  immunity
      is  such,  that  it  will  not  be  in  the public interest to cancel or
      terminate petitioner's contracts or to continue the disqualification, as
      provided  in  sections  one  hundred  thirty-nine-a  and   one   hundred
      thirty-nine-b of this article.
        A  copy  of  the petition and accompanying papers shall be served with
      the notices to be given pursuant to this subdivision.
        2. Upon the  filing  of  such  petition  the  court  may  stay  as  to
      petitioner,  pending  a  decision upon the petition, the cancellation or
      termination of any contracts resulting from such refusal upon such terms
      as to notice or otherwise as may be just.
        3. At least two  days  prior  to  the  return  day,  the  officer  who
      conducted  the investigation before the grand jury or other body and the
      attorney general may file answers to the petition or move  for  judgment
      dismissing  the petition as a matter of law. On or before the return day
      the petitioner may file a reply to the answer.
        4. Upon the return day the court may, upon the petition and answer and
      other papers filed, forthwith render such judgment as the case requires,
      or if a triable issue of fact is duly  raised,  it  shall  forthwith  be
      tried  before  a  court  sitting without a jury or before a referee. The
      provisions of statute or rule governing references in  an  action  shall
      apply to a reference under this subdivision.
        5.  The  court  shall  render  judgment dismissing the petition on the
      merits or discontinuing the disqualification upon the  ground  that  the
      public interest would be served by its discontinuance, and granting such
      other  relief  as to the cancellation or termination of contracts as may
      be appropriate, but without costs to petitioner.