(a) To the fullest extent possible, parties should produce documents and make witnesses available to each other without the use of subpoenas.
(1) Arbitrators shall have the authority to issue subpoenas for the production of documents or the appearance of witnesses.
(2) Unless circumstances dictate the need for a subpoena, arbitrators shall not issue subpoenas to non-party FINRA members and/or employees or associated persons of non-party FINRA members at the request of FINRA members and/or employees or associated persons of FINRA members. If the arbitrators determine that the request for the appearance of witnesses or the production of documents should be granted, the arbitrators should order the appearance of such persons or the production of documents from such persons or non-party FINRA members under Rule 13513.
(b) A party may make a written motion requesting that an arbitrator issue a subpoena to a party or a non-party. The motion must include a draft subpoena and must be filed with the Director. The requesting party must serve the motion and draft subpoena on each other party. The requesting party may not serve the motion or draft subpoena on a non-party.
(c) If a party receiving a motion and draft subpoena objects to the scope or propriety of the subpoena, that party shall, within 10 calendar days of service of the motion, file written objections with the Director, and shall serve copies on all other parties. The party that requested the subpoena may respond to the objections within 10 calendar days of receipt of the objections. After considering all objections, the arbitrator responsible for deciding discovery-related motions shall rule promptly on the issuance and scope of the subpoena.
(d) If the arbitrator issues a subpoena, the party that requested the subpoena must serve the subpoena on all parties and, if applicable, on any non-party receiving the subpoena. The party must serve the subpoena on the non-party by overnight mail service, overnight delivery service, hand delivery, email or facsimile.
(e) If a non-party receiving a subpoena objects to the scope or propriety of the subpoena, the non-party may, within 15 calendar days of receipt of the subpoena, file written objections with the Director and the requesting party. The non-party may file the objection by overnight mail service, overnight delivery service, hand delivery, email or facsimile. The Director shall forward a copy of the written objections to all other parties. The party that requested the subpoena may respond to the objections within 10 calendar days of receipt of the objections. The party must serve the response on the non-party and all other parties and file proof of service with the Director pursuant to Rule 13300(c)(4). The Director will send, at the same time, objections and responses to the panel after the reply date has elapsed, unless otherwise directed by the panel. After considering all objections, the arbitrator responsible for issuing the subpoena shall rule promptly on the objections.
(f) Any party that receives documents in response to a subpoena served on a non-party shall serve notice on all other parties within five days of receipt of the documents. Thereafter, any party may request copies of such documents and, if such a request is made, the documents must be provided within 10 calendar days following receipt of the request by serving them by first-class mail, overnight mail service, overnight delivery service, hand delivery, email or facsimile. Parties must not file the documents with the Director.
(g) If the arbitrators issue a subpoena to a non-party FINRA member and/or any employee or associated person of a non-party FINRA member at the request of a FINRA member and/or employee or associated person of a FINRA member, the party requesting the subpoena shall pay the reasonable costs of the non-party's appearance and/or production, unless the panel directs otherwise.
