Subpoena : Bring It Or Else

A  subpoena is essentially a court order to appear. If you disobey that order, you do so at your peril and subject yourself to whatever sanctions may be appropriate. In this case, a real estate appraiser refused to appear in response to subpoenas duces tecum and ad testificandum, without being paid $150 per hour (instead of the appraiser’s usual wages ). The appraiser allegedly also threatened to not testify truthfully, if compelled to appear. The failure to appear was wrongful, the motion to quash the subpoenas was denied  and counsel fees and costs were assessed. Reddy v. Ibrahim, New Jersey Chancery Div., January 7, 2005.