Opinion ID: 1253359
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Description of Items.

Text: 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).