W. Va. Code R. § 85-28-11

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 45, November 8, 2024

Section 85-28-11 - Subpoenas

11.1. All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be issued in the name of the hearing officer and bear a facsimile of his or her signature, but the party requesting their issuance must sign the actual subpoenas and see that they are properly served. The subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum must be issued through a party's counsel as a member of the Bar and an officer of the Court. All requests by interested parties for subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be in writing, and shall contain a statement acknowledging that the requesting party agrees to pay service fees, fees for attendance, and travel for witnesses.

11.2. Every subpoena or subpoena duces tecum shall be served at least five (5) days before the return date thereof, either by personal service made by any person over eighteen (18) years of age, or by registered or certified mail. If service is by mail, then the five (5) day notice period shall not begin to run until the date the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is received by the person or entity subject thereto as shown by the date on the return receipt.

11.3. Any person who serves any such subpoena or subpoena duces tecum shall be entitled to the same fee as sheriffs who serve witness subpoenas for the circuit courts of this state. Fees for the attendance and travel of witnesses shall be the same as for witnesses before the circuit courts of this state. All such fees related to any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued at the instance of an interested party shall be paid by the party who asks that such subpoena or subpoena duces tecum be issued.

11.4. In case of failure or refusal of any person to comply with any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum served on any person, or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, the circuit court of the county in which the hearing is being held, or the judge thereof in vacation, upon application by the Commission, or hearing officer, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings as for contempt of a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued from such circuit court or a refusal to testify therein.

11.5. Upon motion made promptly and in any event before the time specified in a subpoena duces tecum for compliance therewith, the circuit court of the county in which the hearing is being held, or the circuit court in which the subpoena dues tecum was served, or the judge if either such court in vacation, may grant any relief with respect to such subpoena duces tecum which either such court, under the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure for Trial Courts of Record, could grant, and for any of the same reasons, with respect to a subpoena duces tecum issued from either such court.

11.6. The issuance of a subpoena duces tecum will be refused only in an instance where there is good reason to believe that the subpoena power is being abused. All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum will state on their face the name of the party who requested it.

11.7. Any party filing a protest, by virtue thereof, has conceded jurisdiction and venue with respect to any and all subpoenas issued by the hearing officer with respect to any employee, officer, or representative of the contesting party and any and all notices of deposition or discovery request served by the Commission and deemed relevant by the hearing officer.

W. Va. Code R. § 85-28-11