SUBPOENAS v. SEARCH WARRANTS: THE CURRENT STATE OF THE LAW

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SUBPOENAS v. SEARCH WARRANTSTHE CURRENT STATE
OF THE LAW

• AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
• WHITE COLLAR CRIME NATIONAL INSTITUTE
• MIAMI, FLORIDA
• MARCH 6, 2008
• KURT STITCHER
• LEVENFELD PEARLSTEIN, LLC

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SUBPOENA ISSUES

• NEGOTIATION/OBJECTION
• MOTION TO QUASH Rule 17(c)
• MAY BE ABLE TO LIMIT SCOPE
• SEGREGATION
• TECHNOLOGICAL
• HUMAN REVIEW

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SEARCH WARRANT ISSUES

• OBJECTION
• MOTION FOR RETURN OF PROPERTY Rule 41(g)
• EX POST ONLY
• SEGREGATION
• SEIZURE/IMAGING BY GOVERNMENT
• PROBLEM INTERMINGLED FILES

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SUBPOENA KEYS

• PRE-PRODUCTION NEGOTIATION
• PRE-PRODUCTION OBJECTION
• PRE-PRODUCTION SEGREGATION

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SEARCH WARRANT KEYS

• NO PRE-PRODUCTION NEGOTIATION
• NO PRE-PRODUCTION OBJECTION
• NO PRE-PRODUCTION SEGREGATION

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IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIENTS

• LIKE NIGHT AND DAY
• SUBPOENA SOME CONTROL
• SEARCH WARRANT NONE
• MOST CRITICAL FOR PRIVILEGED/ PROTECTED
  INFORMATION

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SEARCH WARRANT REQUIREMENTS

• BASES
• RULE 41
• FOURTH AMENDMENT
• REQUIREMENTS
• PROBABLE CAUSE
• PARTICULARITY

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COMPLICATING FACTORS

• PRACTICAL
• VOLUME OF ESI
• RELATIONAL DATA INTERMINGLING
• LEGAL
• NO METHODOLOGY REQUIREMENT
• NO ON-SITE SEARCH REQUIREMENT

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THE END RESULT

• WHOLESALE ESI SEIZURES
• HARDWARE OR IMAGING
• STORAGE DEVICES
• POST-SEIZURE SEARCHES
• BROAD SWEEPING
• PLAIN VIEW SEIZURES

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THE FINAL INSULTRULE 41(g)

• UNLAWFUL SEARCH/SEIZURE
• MUST ESTABLISH 4TH AM. VIOLATION
• G CAN KEEP UNDER 4TH AM. EXCEPTION (GOOD FAITH
  IMPEACHMENT INEVITABLE DISCOVERY PURGING OF THE
  TAINT)
• LAWFUL SEARCH/SEIZURE
• NEED EQUITABLE JURISDICTION
• RETENTION MUST BE UNREASONABLE

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THE BALCO DECISION

• FEDERAL GJ INVESTIGATION
• SUBPOENA TO MLB gt NO DOCS
• SUBPOENAS TO 3RD PARTY LABS gt MTQ
• SEARCH WARRANTS FOR LABS
• RESISTANCE FAILS gt DIRECTORY IMAGED
• ALL OF LABS SPORTS DRUG TESTING SEIZED
• MORE SUBPOENAS WARRANTS
• THIRD PARTIES UNAWARE/FAIL TO OBJECT
• DIST. COURTS ORDER RETURN

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THE MAJORITY OPINION

• NO EQUITABLE JURISDICTION
• NO CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR MLB RIGHTS
• SUBPOENAS. AND WARRANTS OK
• IMAGING DIRECTORY OK G DOES NOT HAVE TO RELY ON
  SEARCHED PARTY
• NO BASIS FOR PROPERTY RETURN
• G HAD PROVIDED COPIES TO LABS
• G NEEDED ESI FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION
• DID REQUIRE TAMURA COMPLIANCE

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THE DISSENTING OPINION

• CALLOUS DISREGARD gt EQUITY
• G AVOIDED OBJECTION WITH 1-2 PUNCH
• G REVIEWED ESI W/O NEUTRAL OBSERVER
• O-O-J THREAT TO LAB WAS OUTRAGEOUS
• PROPERTY RETURN PROPER
• NO PC BEYOND FIRST 10 MLB PLAYERS
• PLAIN VIEW NO GOOD FOR INTERMINGLED ESI
• 3RD PARTIES PREJUDICED W/NO NOTICE

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BALCOS BOTTOM LINE

• NO ABILITY TO CHALLENGE
• SEIZURE BEYOND PROBABLE CAUSE
• SEIZURE OF PRIVILEGED/PROTECTED ESI
• ALL ESI WARRANTS ARE GENERAL
• 41(g) GUTTED
• UNLAWFUL SEARCH UNLIKELY
• COPIES TRUMP UNREASONABLE RETENTION
• THIRD PARTIES SOL NO NOTICE