Rule 45.Subpoena

Note: This Rule 45 is substantially the same as the Federal Rule, modified to the limits of State court jurisdiction. Rule 45(b) is modified to conform to new Circuit Court Rule 106. The Federal Rule has been little changed for 40 years and is familiar to South Carolina practitioners. It offers several simplifications of present State practice: (1) The Clerk of Court issues the subpoena "duces tecum" under Rule 45(b), as well as the subpoena to compel attendance of witnesses. (A "standard form" is provided for all clerks, which may be issued to counsel in advance for use as needed.). (2) Service runs statewide and is not confined to one county. (3) One form replaces the old "subpoena writ" with "tickets" attached for each witness. Rule 45(g) is added to provide reasonable per diem and mileage for witnesses. The "Uniform Act to Secure Attendance of Witness from Without the State in Criminal Proceedings," Code § 19-7-50, et seq., is not affected.

Note to 1993 Amendment: Rule 45 is amended to conform to federal Rule 45, as amended in December 1991. The major purposes of that amendment, which are adopted here, are to simplify the procedure for issuing a subpoena and to clarify and enlarge the protection of nonparties who are compelled to assist the court in the proceedings, as well as to facilitate access to materials without the necessity of a deposition. The federal rule made other changes in the methods of issuing subpoenas in districts other than the one in which the action is pending which are not relevant to state practice. Much of the practice remains the same including who may serve the subpoena, the right to object to production in writing, and to require the issuing party to obtain a court order before inspecting the documents. The major changes are: (1) the attorney signs and issues the subpoena on behalf of the court;

Note to 1995 Amendment: Rule 45(c)(2)(A) is amended to add a provision that a party subpoenaing books, papers and documents from a non-party without a deposition shall provide, upon written request, copies of the documents produced without a deposition to other requesting parties. The party requesting copies of the documents must pay the reasonable costs of reproducing the documents. The purpose of the rule is to reduce the burden of non-parties responding to a subpoena for documents by making the documents available to other parties without the need for additional subpoenas. The sharing of the document production should also reduce the cost to the parties of obtaining the information. The rule only applies to documents produced without a deposition. When documents are produced at a deposition all counsel may review the documents at that time. The production of tangible objects for examination, and the inspection of premises are not affected by this rule. Rule 45(c)(3)(A)(ii) and 45(c)(3)(B)(iii) are amended to make clear that a non-party general partner of a partnership that is a party, is treated the same as an officer, director or managing agent of a party for purposes of trial subpoenas. Rule 45(c)(3) provides a non-party, subpoenaed to appear at trial more than fifty miles from the place of service, the opportunity to move to quash the subpoena unless a special showing of need is made and reasonable compensation is provided to the witness. These special provisions are not available to parties or officers, directors and managing agents of parties. The amendment extends the exclusion to a general partner of a partnership that is a party. The amendment does not affect limited partners.

Note to 2002 Amendment: The first 2002 amendment amends Rule 45(b)(1) to permit service of subpoenas by the same method as used to serve a summons and complaint. First, in addition to in hand service of the subpoena, service on an individual could be made by leaving the subpoena at the person's home or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion then residing there as provided in Rule 4(d)(1). Second, a subpoena could be served on an individual, a corporation, or a partnership by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and delivery restricted to the addressee under Rule 4(d)(8). In addition, the person or the person's attorney may accept service under Rule 4(j). The second 2002 amendment amends Rule 45(e), to make clear the circumstances when service is effective and may be enforced through the contempt power.

Note to 2011 Amendment: The amendments to Rules 16, 26, 33, 34, 37 and 45 of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure concerning electronic discovery are substantially similar to the corresponding provisions in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The rules concerning electronic discovery are intended to provide a practical, efficient and cost-effective method to assure reasonable discovery. Pursuit of electronic discovery must relate to the claims and defenses asserted in the pleadings and should serve as a means for facilitating a just and cost-effective resolution of disputes.

Note to 2015 Amendment: Paragraph (b)(1) is amended to provide that fees for attendance and reimbursement for mileage must be tendered when the person arrives in accordance with the subpoena, rather than at the time of the service of a subpoena. The amendment also clarifies that a person commanded to appear is entitled to a fee for each day's attendance, and mileage is properly measured from the person's residence to the location commanded in the subpoena. Parties issuing subpoenas commanding the attendance of a person should take care to promptly notify the person if his or her attendance is no longer required because a trial, hearing, or deposition has been cancelled or rescheduled.

Note to 2020 Amendment: The amendment incorporates a version of the 2013 amendment to the Federal Rule by transferring the last sentence in paragraph (b)(1) to new paragraph (a)(4) and amending the sentence to require the issuing party serve a copy of the subpoena on each party before it is served on the person to whom it is directed. The language has also been modified, consistent with the corresponding Federal Rule and prior amendments to the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure involving electronic discovery, to include a reference to electronically stored information. Paragraph (e) has been amended to delete the specific reference to former paragraph (b)(1)--now paragraph (a)(4)--with regard to an adequate time to respond. This provision controls the time to serve a subpoena on each party, and not the time to serve the subpoena on the person to whom the subpoena is directed.