Opinion
5:20-cv-603-JSM-PRL
09-29-2021
FLORENCE CARPENTER, Plaintiff, v. EDWIN MCCRAE and FIRELINE, INC., Defendants.
ORDER
PHILIP R. LAMMENS UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
This matter is before the Court on Defendants Edwin MccRae and Fire line, Inc.'s motion for an order requiring non-party, Metro PCS to show cause as to why it should not be held in contempt for failing to comply with Defendants' subpoena. (Doc. 15). Plaintiff has no objection.
In this action, Plaintiff alleges negligence against Defendants arising from a motor vehicle accident on March 18, 2020. Plaintiff seeks damages for past and future medical expenses, and loss of past and future earnings. Defendants dispute liability and are seeking Plaintiffs cell phone records from Metro PCS to determine whether Plaintiff was on her cell phone at the time of the accident.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45, a party may subpoena from a nonparty, documents, electronically stored information ("ESI"), or tangible things in the non-party's possession, custody, or control for inspection, copying, testing, or sampling. Fed.R.Civ.P. 45(a)(1)(A)(iii), (a)(1)(D). By issuing a subpoena, the party is "invoking the court's power to require a non-party to produce documents." Fla. Media, Inc. v. World Pub I'ns, LLC, 236 F.R.D 693, 694 (M.D. Fla. 2006). The Court may hold in contempt a person who, having been served, fails without adequate excuse to obey the subpoena. Fed.R.Civ.P. 45(g). "If a witness disregards the subpoena and fails to comply without filing a timely motion to quash, the witness may be found in contempt of court, with no need for any further court order." In re Certain Complaints Under Investigation by an Investigating Comm., 783 F.2d 1488, 1495 (11th Cir. 1986).
Here, on April 2, 2021, Defendants served a subpoena on Metro PCS. (Docs. 15-1). The subpoena commanded Metro PCS to produce the requested documents by April 12, 2021. (Doc. 15-1 at 2). By letter dated September 8, 2021, Defendants advised Metro PCS that it had failed to comply with its obligations under the subpoena and requested that the records be produced within five days. (Doc. 15-2). To date, Metro PCS has not produced any of the required documents or provided any other response to the subpoena.
Based on the foregoing, Defendants' motion (Doc. 15) is due to be GRANTED. Defendants shall promptly serve Metro PCS with a copy of this Order and file notice of service with the Court. Within ten days of service of this Order, Metro PCS shall: (1) show cause as to why it should not be held in contempt for failing to comply with the subpoena; and (2) produce to Defendants the records requested in the subpoena.
DONE and ORDERED.