Criminal Defense Lawyers

Facing a Subpoena in Madison? Trusted Legal Advisors to Advocate for You

Dealing with Subpoenas in Madison: A Straightforward Guide

What’s a Subpoena, Anyway?

Have you ever gotten a letter from a court or lawyer demanding you show up somewhere with documents or to testify? That, my friend, is a subpoena. But, take a deep breath. Getting one doesn’t automatically mean you’re in trouble.A subpoena is simply a court order requiring you to do something related to a legal case. There are different types, but the two main ones are:

1. A subpoena that requires you to testify (either at a deposition or trial)
2. A subpoena that requires you to bring documents or other evidence

The word “subpoena” literally means “under penalty” in Latin. So yeah, ignoring one can potentially land you in hot water with a judge. But, we‘ll cover how to properly respond in a bit.For now, just know that getting a subpoena doesn’t necessarily mean you did anything wrong. You could just be an important witness or have key documents related to someone else’s case.

Why Me? How Did I Get Subpoenaed?

Good question! There are a few common scenarios where you might find yourself on the receiving end of a subpoena:

You witnessed an incident. Say there was a car accident, assault, or other event with potential legal implications. If you saw what went down, the lawyers may want your eyewitness testimony.

You have relevant records or evidence. Maybe you have security camera footage, emails, texts, photos, or other documents that could help prove or disprove something in a case. The subpoena requires you to turn that stuff over.

You have special expertise. For certain technical cases involving things like medicine, engineering, etc., the lawyers may need an expert witness to testify about industry standards. If you’re a pro in that field, they could subpoena you.

You did business with someone involved in the case. If you employed, contracted with, or otherwise had dealings with a person or company now caught up in legal drama, the lawyers may want you to verify certain facts about that relationship.The key thing to remember is that you’re likely just an innocent bystander who happened to see, know, or have something that‘s now relevant to the case. No need to panic!

Christine Twomey

2024-03-21

Just had my Divorce case settled 2 months ago after having a horrible experience with another firm. I couldn’t be happier with Claire Banks and Elizabeth Garvey with their outstanding professionalism in doing so with Spodek Law Group. Any time I needed questions answered they were always prompt in doing so with all my uncertainties after 30 yrs of marriage.I feel from the bottom of my heart you will NOT be disappointed with either one. Thanks a million.

Brendan huisman

2024-03-18

Alex Zhik contacted me almost immediately when I reached out to Spodek for a consultation and was able to effectively communicate the path forward/consequences of my legal issue. I immediately agreed to hire Alex for his services and did not regret my choice. He was able to cover my case in court (with 1 day notice) and not only was he able to push my case down, he carefully negotiated a dismissal of the charge altogether. I highly recommend Spodek, and more specifically, Alex Zhik for all of your legal issues. Thanks guys!

Guerline Menard

2024-03-18

Thanks again Spodek law firm, particularly Esq Claire Banks who stood right there with us up to the finish line. Attached photos taken right outside of the court building and the smile on our faces represented victory, a breath of fresh air and satisfaction. We are very happy that this is over and we can move on with our lives. Thanks Spodek law 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼❤️

Keisha Parris

2024-03-15

Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.

Taïko Beauty

2024-03-15

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence. Thank you team!

Anthony Williams

2024-03-12

Hey, how you guys doing? Good afternoon my name is Anthony Williams I just want to give a great shout out to the team of. Spodek law group. It is such a honor to use them and to use their assistance through this whole case from start to finish. They did everything that they said they was gonna do and if it ever comes down to it, if I ever have to use them again, hands-down they will be the first law office at the top of my list, thank you guys so much. It was a pleasure having you guys by my side so if you guys ever need them, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call.

Loveth Okpedo

2024-03-12

Very professional, very transparent, over all a great experience

Bee L

2024-02-28

Amazing experience with Spodek! Very professional lawyers who take your case seriously. They treated me with respect, were always available, and answered any and all questions. They were able to help me very successfully and removed a huge stress. Highly recommend.

divesh patel

2024-02-24

I can't recommend Alex Zhik and Spodek Law Firm highly enough for their exceptional legal representation and personal mentorship. From the moment I engaged their services in October 2022, Alex took the time to understand my case thoroughly and provided guidance every step of the way. Alex's dedication to my case went above and beyond my expectations. His expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to mentor me, ensuring I understood the legal complexities involved to make informed decisions. Alex is the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with and has made a meaningful impact on me. I also want to acknowledge Todd Spodek, the leader of the firm, who played a crucial role in my case. His leadership and support bolstered the efforts of Alex, and his involvement highlighted the firm's commitment to excellence. Thanks to Alex Zhik and Todd Spodek, I achieved the outcome I desired, and I am incredibly grateful for their professionalism, expertise, and genuine care. If you're in need of legal representation, look no further than this outstanding team.

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Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 736 reviews

Okay, So I Got a Subpoena…Now What?

The first step is to carefully review the subpoena to understand exactly what it’s asking of you. Is it requiring you to:

• Testify at a deposition?
• Testify at an actual trial or hearing?
• Produce certain documents or records?
• Allow an inspection of your premises?

The subpoena should spell all of that out, including specifics on when and where you need to show up or turn things over. Read it thoroughly, because the consequences of not complying can be harsh (more on that in a bit).Next, you‘ll likely want to have a lawyer review the subpoena, especially if it’s asking for sensitive personal, financial, or medical records. An attorney can advise if some or all of the request is unreasonably burdensome or a violation of your privacy rights.From there, you have a few options on how to respond:

Comply fully. If the subpoena seems properly issued and isn‘t asking for anything too outrageous, your simplest option may be to just do what it says. Show up with the requested documents or give your testimony on the scheduled date.

Try to modify the subpoena. Through your lawyer, you can ask the requesting party to limit or alter the subpoena if you have reasonable objections to the scope of what’s being asked. Maybe they’ll agree to remove the most intrusive or irrelevant requests.

File a motion to quash or modify. If the requesting party won’t budge, you can ask the court to throw out (quash) or modify the subpoena. This is appropriate if it’s unreasonably burdensome, calls for privileged info, or was improperly issued.

Ignore it (not recommended). Technically, you could just not respond at all. But be warned – that opens you up to being held in contempt of court, fined, or even briefly jailed in some cases. Not the wisest move!The bottom line is that while complying with a subpoena can be inconvenient, there are ways to challenge or modify it through proper legal channels if needed. Just don’t simply ignore it and hope it goes away.