Opinion ID: 1253359
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Reasonable Compliance.

Text: One common ground raised in motions to quash is that the subpoena violates the protections afforded the subjected individual by the Fourth Amendment. Courts employ a three-prong test in determining whether a subpoena satisfies the Fourth Amendment doctrine: (1) the investigation must be for a lawfully authorized purpose although no specific crime need be charged; (2) the documents sought must be relevant to the inquiry; and (3) the items to be produced must be described in a manner permitting the object of the subpoena to properly respond with reasonable effort. State v. Kelley, 353 N.W.2d 845, 847 (Iowa 1984) (citation omitted); see Oklahoma Press Publ'g Co. v. Walling, 327 U.S. 186, 208-09, 66 S.Ct. 494, 505-06, 90 L.Ed. 614, 629-30 (1946); 2 Wayne R. LaFave, Search and Seizure § 4.13(a), at 726-27 (3d ed.1996) [hereinafter LaFave]. Courts must consider subpoenas which are attacked on Fourth Amendment grounds on a case-by-case basis. In re Grand Jury Subpoena Duces Tecum, 834 F.2d 1128, 1133 (2d Cir.1987); see 2 LaFave § 4.13(a), at 727 (court must examine the particular circumstances of the case in determining whether the Fourth Amendment has been violated). Thus, we will examine each prong of the test to determine if the subpoena in this case complies with the Fourth Amendment protections.
Courts rarely, if ever, quash a subpoena on the grounds that it was issued for an unlawful purpose. See 2 LaFave § 4.13(a), at 728 (the Fourth Amendment requirement of an authorized investigative purpose is a virtual nullity). This is because the lawful purpose criterion is satisfied when the county attorney is engaged in a bona fide criminal investigation. Kelley, 353 N.W.2d at 848. The county attorney in this case was involved in a lawful criminal investigation. The three named truck drivers had been previously charged with flagrant overweight violations, and they were suspected of committing this same offense on other occasions. To substantiate his suspicions, the county attorney chose to subpoena the records from the business where the three drivers regularly delivered grain. In issuing the subpoena to Pattison, the county attorney was merely exercising his general investigatory powers. See Kelley, 353 N.W.2d at 848; Chidester v. Needles, 353 N.W.2d 849, 852 (Iowa 1984). Pattison attempts to refute the lawfulness of the investigation by arguing the DOT is not authorized under Iowa Code section 321.465 and section 321.476 (1997) to obtain Pattison's scale tickets because Pattison did not consent to the use of its private scales and records. We need not address Pattison's argument concerning the authority of the DOT. The county attorney may investigate any crime, whether or not an agency such as the DOT would be so empowered.
The documents sought from Pattison by the county attorney were clearly relevant to the investigation. See Oklahoma Press Publ'g Co., 327 U.S. at 209, 66 S.Ct. at 506, 90 L.Ed. at 630; Kelley, 353 N.W.2d at 848. Trucks delivering loads to Pattison's terminals are weighed both before and after the loads are emptied. The scale tickets issued to the customers list the quantity of the grain delivered. By examining these documents, the county attorney may be able to determine whether the truck drivers were hauling grain in excess of the legal weight limits. If the scale tickets show weight limit violations, the county attorney can use the tickets as a basis for pursuing criminal proceedings against the guilty drivers. The subpoena satisfies the relevancy requirement.
To comply with the third requirement of particularity, the subpoena must adequately describe the documents to be produced to permit the object of the subpoena to adequately respond. Oklahoma Press Publ'g Co., 327 U.S. at 209, 66 S.Ct. at 506, 90 L.Ed. at 630; Kelley, 353 N.W.2d at 849. The description must be sufficiently specific so that the person can determine what documents are sought under the subpoena. 2 LaFave § 4.13(d), at 737. Yet, the subpoena need not describe with exact detail the specific documents to be produced. Oklahoma Press Publ'g Co., 327 U.S. at 209, 66 S.Ct. at 506, 90 L.Ed. at 630; In re Tax Liabilities, 866 F.2d 1015, 1020-21 (8th Cir.1989); see In re Grand Jury Subpoena, 630 F.Supp. 614, 620 (D.N.C.1986); 2 LaFave § 4.13(d), at 737. On the other hand, the subpoena must not be so broad that compliance would be unduly burdensome. 2 LaFave § 4.13(d), at 737. We recognize that questions regarding adequacy of the specificity of the subpoena vary in relation to the nature, purposes and scope of the inquiry. Oklahoma Press Publ'g Co., 327 U.S. at 209, 66 S.Ct. at 506, 90 L.Ed. at 630. Our review of the subpoena in this case reveals the description of the items sought is clear and specific. The subpoena seeks the load and weight records of three specific individuals. The problem in producing the records is not actually due to the description contained in the subpoena, but to the manner in which Pattison maintains its records. Pattison does not normally identify scale tickets by the name of the driver, and when the driver's name is listed, the scale ticket only refers to the first name of the driver. Thus, the record keeping procedure of Pattison, not the description contained in the subpoena, makes it difficult for Pattison to comply with the subpoena. Notwithstanding, it is appropriate to consider the willingness of the county attorney to assist the subject of the subpoena in complying with the subpoena when determining the particularity of the description of the document sought. See In re Subpoenas Duces Tecum, 51 F.Supp.2d 726, 737 (D.Va.1999) (United States Attorney offered a compromise schedule for production of the requested documents); see also 2 LaFave § 4.13(e), at 749 (ordering investigative body to inspect subpoenaed documents on its own would minimize burden of compliance). Based on the hearing on the motion to quash the subpoena in this case, it is clear the county attorney desires to work with Pattison in locating the requested documents and is willing to provide assistance in searching through the records. Moreover, it appears the description contained in the subpoena could be modified to accommodate Pattison's record keeping practices if it chose not to accept the county attorney's assistance. Additionally, it is apparent that other agreements could be fashioned. See Dir. of the Office of Thrift Supervision v. Ernst & Young, 786 F.Supp. 46, 52 (D.D.C.1992).