Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 69-1-6 - Subpoenas6.1. The secretary may issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of pertinent books, accounts, papers, records, documents, and testimony. All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be issued in the name of the secretary, but any party requesting their issuance must see that they are properly served. Service of subpoenas duces tecum issued at the instance of the secretary shall be the responsibility of the secretary. All requests by interested parties for subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be in writing and shall contain a statement acknowledging that the requesting party agrees to pay service fees and fees for the attendance and travel of witnesses.6.2. Every subpoena or subpoena duces tecum shall be served at least five days before the return date thereof, either by personal service made by any person over 18 years of age or by registered or certified mail. But a return acknowledgment signed by the person to whom the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is directed shall be required to prove service by registered or certified mail. If service is by mail, then the five-day notice period shall not begin to run until the date the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is received by the person or entity subject thereto as shown by the date on the return receipt.6.3. The person who serves any such subpoena or subpoena duces tecum shall be entitled to the same fee as sheriffs who serve witness subpoenas for the circuit courts of this state. Fees for the attendance and travel of witnesses shall be the same as for the witnesses before the circuit courts of this state. All such fees shall be paid by the secretary if the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum was issued, without the request of an interested party, at the instance of the secretary. All such fees related to any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued at the same instance of an interested party shall be paid by the party who asks that such subpoena or subpoena duces tecum be issued.6.4. Upon motion made promptly and in any event before the time specified in a subpoena duces tecum for compliance therewith, the circuit court of the county in which hearing is to be held, or the circuit court in which the subpoena duces tecum was served, or the judge of either such court in vacation, may grant any relief with respect to such subpoena duces tecum which either such court, under the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure for Trial Courts of Record, could grant, and for any of the same reasons, with respect to a subpoena duces tecum issued from either such court.6.5. In case of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum served on any person, or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, the circuit court of the county in which the hearing is being held, or the judge thereof in vacation, upon application by the secretary, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt of a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued from such circuit court or a refusal to testify therein.6.6. The issuance of a subpoena duces tecum will be refused only in an instance where there is good reason to believe that the subpoena power is being abused. Ail subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum will state on their face the name of the party who requested it.