Why is someone demanding records or telling a witness they have to show up? A subpoena is a formal legal order requiring a person, business, or agency to do something connected to a case - usually appear to testify, produce documents, or both. Courts, attorneys, and sometimes government agencies use subpoenas to gather evidence that is not being handed over voluntarily. Common types include a subpoena for testimony and a subpoena for records, such as medical charts, employment files, surveillance footage, or phone data.

In a personal injury case, a subpoena can shape what facts are actually provable. It may be used to get hospital records, incident reports, payroll records showing lost wages, or testimony from a witness who saw a fall or burn happen. For a restaurant worker in Manhattan, that could mean kitchen safety logs or training records. For an MTA worker, it might involve attendance records or internal reports tied to the injury.

In New York, subpoenas in civil cases are governed mainly by the CPLR, including CPLR 2302 and 2303, and medical or hospital records may also involve HIPAA rules and notices required under CPLR 3122-a. A subpoena can be challenged with a motion to quash if it is too broad, seeks privileged material, or was served improperly. Ignoring one can lead to penalties, delays, or missing evidence that could strengthen - or weaken - an injury claim.