Section 1311-A. Subpoena duces tecum  


Latest version.
  • 1. At any time before an action
      pursuant to this article  is  commenced,  the  claiming  authority  may,
      pursuant  to  the  provisions  of subdivision two of this section, apply
      without notice for the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum.
        2. An application for a subpoena duces tecum pursuant to this section:
        (a) shall be made in the  judicial  district  in  which  the  claiming
      authority  may commence an action pursuant to this article, and shall be
      made in writing to a justice of the supreme court, or  a  judge  of  the
      county court; and
        (b)  shall  be  supported  by  an  affidavit,  and  such other written
      documentation as may be submitted which: (i) sets forth the identity  of
      the claiming authority and certifies that the applicant is authorized to
      make   the   application   on  the  claiming  authority's  behalf;  (ii)
      demonstrates reasonable grounds to believe that  the  execution  of  the
      subpoena  would  be  reasonably  likely to lead to information about the
      nature and location of any debt or property against which  a  forfeiture
      judgment  may  be enforced; (iii) states whether any other such subpoena
      or provisional remedy  has  been  previously  sought  or  obtained  with
      respect  to the subject matter of the subpoena or the matter to which it
      relates; (iv) contains a factual statement which sets  forth  the  basis
      for  the issuance of the subpoena, including a particular description of
      the nature of the information sought to be obtained; (v) states  whether
      the  issuance of the subpoena is sought without notice to any interested
      party; and (vi) where the application seeks the issuance of the subpoena
      without notice to any interested party,  contains  a  statement  setting
      forth  the  factual  basis  for  the  claiming  authority's  belief that
      providing notice of the application for the issuance of the subpoena may
      result in any property being destroyed, removed from the jurisdiction of
      the court, or otherwise being unavailable for forfeiture or to satisfy a
      money judgment that may be entered in the  forfeiture  action,  and  may
      interfere with law enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings.
        3. An application made pursuant to this section may be granted, in the
      court's  discretion, upon a determination that the application meets the
      requirements set forth in subdivision two  of  this  section;  provided,
      however,  that no such subpoena may be issued or directed to an attorney
      with regard to privileged records or documents or attorney  work-product
      relating  to  a client. When a subpoena has been issued pursuant to this
      section, the claiming authority shall have the right  to  possession  of
      the  subpoenaed  material. The possession shall be for a period of time,
      and on such reasonable terms and conditions, as the  court  may  direct.
      The  reasonableness of such possession, time, terms and conditions shall
      be determined with consideration for, among other things, (a)  the  good
      cause  shown  by  the  party issuing the subpoena or in whose behalf the
      subpoena is issued, (b) the rights and legitimate needs  of  the  person
      subpoenaed  and (c) the feasibility and appropriateness of making copies
      of the subpoenaed material. Where the application seeks  a  subpoena  to
      compel  the  production  of an original record or document, the court in
      its discretion may order the production of  a  certified  transcript  or
      certified copy thereof.
        4.  Upon a determination pursuant to subdivision three of this section
      that the subpoena should be granted, the court shall issue the subpoena,
      seal all papers relating thereto, and direct that  the  recipient  shall
      not,  except  as  otherwise  ordered  by the court, disclose the fact of
      issuance or the subject  of  the  subpoena  to  any  person  or  entity;
      provided,  however,  that  the court may require that notice be given to
      any interested party prior to the issuance of the subpoena,  or  at  any
      time  thereafter,  when:  (a)  an  order  granting  a provisional remedy
      pursuant to this article with respect  to  the  subject  matter  of  the
    
      subpoena  or  the  matter  to  which it relates has been served upon the
      defendant whose  books  and  records  are  the  subject  matter  of  the
      subpoena,  whether  such  books and records are in the possession of the
      defendant  or  a third party; or (b) the court determines that providing
      notice of the application (i) will not  result  in  any  property  being
      destroyed,  removed  from  the  jurisdiction  of the court, or otherwise
      being unavailable for forfeiture or to satisfy a money judgment that may
      be entered in the forfeiture action and (ii) will not interfere with law
      enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings. For purposes of this
      section, "interested party" means any person whom the  court  determines
      might  have an interest in the property subject to the forfeiture action
      brought pursuant to this article.
        5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of this section,
      where a subpoena duces tecum has been issued pursuant  to  this  section
      without  notice  to  any  interested party, the claiming authority shall
      serve written notice of the  fact  and  date  of  the  issuance  of  the
      subpoena  duces  tecum,  and  of  the fact that information was obtained
      thereby, upon any interested party not later than ninety days after  the
      date  of  compliance  with  such  subpoena,  or  upon  commencement of a
      forfeiture action, whichever occurs first; provided, however, where  the
      action  has not been commenced and upon a showing of good cause, service
      of the notice required herein may be postponed by order of the court for
      a reasonable period of time. The court, upon the filing of a  motion  by
      any  interested  party  served with such notice, may, in its discretion,
      make available to such party or the party's counsel for inspection  such
      portions  of  the  information  obtained pursuant to the subpoena as the
      court directs.
        6. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to diminish or
      impair any right of subpoena or discovery that may otherwise be provided
      for by law to the claiming authority or to a defendant in  a  forfeiture
      action.