Iowa Admin. Code r. 193-7.19 - Issuance of subpoenas in a contested case

(1) Subpoenas issued in a contested case may compel the attendance of witnesses at deposition or hearing, and may compel the production of books, papers, records, and other real evidence. A command to produce evidence or to permit inspection may be joined with a command to appear at deposition or hearing, or each command may be issued separately. Subpoenas will be issued by the executive officer or designee upon a written request that complies with this rule. In the case of a request for a subpoena of mental health records, the request will need to confirm compliance with the following conditions prior to the issuance of the subpoena:

a. The nature of the issues in the case reasonably justifies the issuance of the requested subpoena;

b. Adequate safeguards have been established to prevent unauthorized disclosure;

c. An express statutory mandate, articulated public policy, or other recognizable public interest favors access; and

d. An attempt was made to notify the patient and to secure an authorization from the patient for the release of the records at issue.

(2) A request for a subpoena will include the following information, as applicable:

a. The name, address, email address, and telephone number of the person requesting the subpoena;

b. The name and address of the person to whom the subpoena is directed;

c. The date, time, and location at which the person is commanded to attend and give testimony;

d. Whether the testimony is requested in connection with a deposition or hearing;

e. A description of the books, papers, records or other real evidence requested;

f. The date, time and location for production, or inspection and copying; and

g. In the case of a subpoena request for mental health records, confirmation that the conditions described in subrule 7.19(1) have been satisfied.

(3) Each subpoena will contain, as applicable:

a. The caption of the case;

b. The name, address and telephone number of the person who requested the subpoena;

c. The name and address of the person to whom the subpoena is directed;

d. The date, time, and location at which the person is commanded to appear;

e. Whether the testimony is commanded in connection with a deposition or hearing;

f. A description of the books, papers, records or other real evidence the person is commanded to produce;

g. The date, time and location for production, or inspection and copying;

h. The time within which a motion to quash or modify the subpoena will need to be filed;

i. The signature, address and telephone number of the executive officer or designee;

j. The date of issuance; and

k. A return of service.

(4) The executive officer or designee will mail copies of all subpoenas to the parties to the contested case. The person who requested the subpoena is responsible for serving the subpoena upon the subject of the subpoena. If a subpoena is requested to compel testimony or documents for rebuttal or impeachment at hearing, the person requesting the subpoena will so state in the request and may ask that copies of the subpoena not be mailed to the parties in the contested case.

(5) Any person who is aggrieved or adversely affected by compliance with the subpoena, or any party to the contested case who desires to challenge the subpoena, will need to file with the board a motion to quash or modify the subpoena within 14 days after service of the subpoena, or before the time specified for compliance if such time is less than 14 days. The motion will describe the legal reasons why the subpoena should be quashed or modified, and may be accompanied by legal briefs or factual affidavits. However, if a subpoena solely requests the production of books, papers, records, or other real evidence and does not also seek to compel testimony, the person who is aggrieved or adversely affected by compliance with the subpoena may alternatively serve written objection on the requesting party before the earlier of the date specified for compliance or 14 days after the subpoena is served. The serving party may then file a motion asking the presiding officer to issue an order compelling production.

(6) Upon receipt of a timely motion to quash or modify a subpoena or motion to compel production, the board may issue a decision or may request an administrative law judge to issue a decision. The administrative law judge or the board may quash or modify the subpoena, deny or grant the motion, or issue an appropriate protective order. Prior to ruling on the motion, the board or administrative law judge may schedule oral argument or hearing by telephone or in person.

(7) A person aggrieved by a ruling of an administrative law judge who desires to challenge the ruling will need to appeal the ruling to the board in accordance with the procedure applicable to intraagency appeals of proposed decisions set forth in rules 193-7.31 (17A) and 193-7.32 (17A), provided that all of the time frames are reduced by one-half.

(8) If the person contesting the subpoena is not a party to the contested case proceeding, the board's decision is final for purposes of judicial review. If the person contesting the subpoena is a party to the contested case proceeding, the board's decision is not final for purposes of judicial review until there is a final decision in the contested case.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 193-7.19

Amended by IAB October 12, 2016/Volume XXXIX, Number 08, effective 11/16/2016 Adopted by IAB July 10, 2024/Volume XLVII, Number 1, effective 8/14/2024