THOMAS B. McCOUN, III, Magistrate Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the court on
The subpoena duces tecum at issue was served on non-party Nicholas Peters on November 28, 2016, seeking production of 15 categories of documents on December 7, 2016. (Doc. 98-2). When no response was received, Defendants filed the instant motion on December 8, 2016. (Doc. 98). On December 15, 2016, Defendants filed a notice indicating that Peters had mailed some responsive documents to defense counsel, which were received by counsel on December 9, 2016. The production consisted of bank statements, a contract, and a type-written list of responses. The notice contended the production remained incomplete. (Doc. 99). Peters' response reflects that additional production had been made and that bank records, invoices, and communications had been produced as had Pay Pal records which were produced in electronic and hard copy format on December 20, 2016. (Doc. 103). Regarding the requests for personal documents pertaining to monies received from relatives and information related to the application process for their three special needs foster children who were subsequently adopted, Peters submits the requests are irrelevant, immaterial, and harassing.
Initially, I find no cause to hold Mr. Peters in contempt. It is now apparent that Peters, a non-party, has made reasonable efforts to comply with the requests not objected to. Indeed, defense counsel acknowledges that all Pay Pal records, bank statements (personal and business), and most emails sought have now been produced. Counsel for Peters states that one email may be outstanding which will be produced and it is agreed that Mr. Peters will again search his email accounts and produce any additional emails related to any relevant issue in this case. As for business emails, Peters' counsel represents Peters has produced everything he had access to, but he no longer has access to those accounts. Peters' counsel further represented that Peters has produced everything in his possession related to USA Distributors Service Inc. ("USA Distributors"), and the company's business records are now all in Orlando and out of his control.
Rule 45 authorizes the court to hold in contempt or otherwise sanction a person who fails without adequate cause to obey a subpoena or an order related to it. Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(g). In light of the production made by Peters, even if a few days late, I find no basis for contempt sanctions against Mr. Peters, and accordingly, Defendants' Motion to Hold Non-Party Nicholas Peters in Contempt and for Sanctions for Failing to Comply with Subpoena Duces Tecum (Doc. 98) is
Insofar as the Motion is construed as a motion to compel additional production under the subpoena, the Motion is
At the hearing, Defendants complain that despite Peters' production of documents, the production is still incomplete.
As for the document requests related to Peters' personal and family finances which have not been produced and are objected to — job applications, documents revealing debts owed, income information, applications stating his income including applications related to his [now adopted] children, evidence of receipt of gifts or money in excess of $100, and documents showing monies received from his wife Jenna Antico or her family — I find such requests overly broad, intrusive and unrelated to the claims and defenses in this case. While Defendants argue such matters are necessary to test Peters' and his wife's credibility concerning their financial status and to reveal whether Peters inappropriately used funds from USA Distributors for his personal use, the requests appear more a fishing expedition on matters collateral to this litigation. Peters concedes that he used his company's funds to pay personal obligations such as his car payment but urges such was appropriate and part of his compensation from the company. While ownership of USA Distributors may be in dispute, I find it unnecessary on this motion that Peters be compelled to produce back-up documentation for his financial dealings and circumstances, which are otherwise documented and/or not disputed. Moreover, I find no relevance to the demand for Peters' income records, not already produced, job applications, adoption or foster care applications or evidence of receipts of gifts and benefits from family members or relatives during the stated period. If Mr. Peters is deposed, some reasonable inquiry into such matters may be appropriate, but the demand that he produce documentation as to these matters, at present, appears beyond the appropriate scope of discovery. As to these matters, Peters' objections are presently sustained, and Defendants' motion seeking to compel the same is
Production required hereunder shall be made within twenty (20) days from the date of this Order. Mr. Peters is under a continuing duty to timely produce responsive documents hereafter discovered consistent with Rule 26(e).
In any and all other respects, the Motion is