LHF Productions, Inc. v. Does

Filing 10

ORDER. Plaintiff's motion for leave to serve third party subpoenas prior to a Rule 26(f) conference (Doc. # 2 ) is GRANTED, subject to the conditions set forth in the attached order. It is so ordered. Signed by Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer on 10/12/2016. (Levenson, C.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT

LHF PRODUCTIONS, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.

No. 3:16-cv-01689 (JAM)

DOES 1-11,
Defendants.

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE
THIRD PARTY SUBPOENAS PRIOR TO A RULE 26(f) CONFERENCE
Plaintiff LHF Productions, Inc. alleges that defendants Does 1-11, identified only by their
IP addresses, committed copyright infringement by distributing plaintiff’s motion picture,
London has Fallen, using BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file distribution network. Doc. #4. Plaintiff
moves pursuant to Fed R. Civ. P. 26(d)(1) for leave to serve third-party subpoenas on
defendants’ internet service provider (“ISP”) for the limited purpose of discovering defendants’
identities; only with defendants’ identities will plaintiff be able to serve defendants with process
and proceed with the case. Doc. #2-1 at 6-8. For substantially the reasons set forth in plaintiff’s
motion and supporting documents, I will GRANT the motion, having concluded that plaintiff has
established good cause for entry of this order.
This order is subject to the following conditions and limitations:
1.

Plaintiff may subpoena defendants’ ISP only to obtain defendants’ names,
addresses, and email addresses, but not defendants’ telephone numbers. Plaintiff
may only use defendants’ information, if obtained by defendants’ ISP, for the
purposes of this litigation; plaintiff is ordered not to disclose defendants’ names,
addresses, email addresses, or any other identifying information other than
defendants’ ISP number, that plaintiff may subsequently learn. Plaintiff shall not
threaten to disclose any of defendants’ identifying information. Defendants will
be permitted to litigate this case anonymously unless and until this Court orders
otherwise and only after defendants have had an opportunity to challenge the

disclosures. Therefore, plaintiff is ordered not to publicly file any of defendants’
identifying information and to file all documents containing defendants’
identifying information under seal.
2.

Plaintiff may immediately serve a Rule 45 subpoena on defendants’ ISP to obtain
each defendant’s name, current and permanent address, and email address.
Plaintiff is expressly not permitted to subpoena the ISP for defendants’ telephone
numbers. Plaintiff shall serve defendants’ ISP with a copy of the complaint, this
Order, and the subpoena.

3.

After having been served with the subpoena, the ISP will delay producing to
plaintiff the subpoenaed information until after it has provided defendants Does 111 with:
a. Notice that this suit has been filed naming defendants as the individuals
that allegedly downloaded copyright protected work;
b. A copy of the subpoena, the complaint filed in this lawsuit, and this Order;
and
c. Notice that the ISP will comply with the subpoena and produce to plaintiff
the information sought in the subpoena unless, within 60 days of service
of the subpoena on defendants by the ISP, defendants file a motion to
quash the subpoena or for other appropriate relief in this Court. If a timely
motion to quash is filed, the ISP shall not produce the subpoenaed
information until the Court acts on the motion.

4.

Defendants’ ISP will have 60 days from the date of service of the Rule 45
subpoena upon it to serve each defendant with a copy of the complaint, this Order,
and the subpoena. The ISP may serve defendants using any reasonable means,
including written notice sent to his or her last known address, transmitted either
by first class mail or via overnight service.

5.

Defendants Doe 1-11 shall have 60 days from the date of service of the Rule 45
subpoena and this Order upon them to file any motions with this Court contesting
the subpoena (including a motion to quash or modify the subpoena), as well as
any requests to litigate the subpoena anonymously. The ISP may not turn over the
identifying information of defendants to plaintiff before the expiration of this 60day period. Additionally, if defendants or the ISP files a motion to quash or
modify the subpoena, or a request to litigate the subpoena anonymously, the ISP
may not turn over any information to plaintiff until the issues have been addressed
and the Court issues an order instructing the ISP to resume turning over the
requested discovery.

6.

Defendants’ ISP shall preserve any subpoenaed information pending the
resolution of any timely filed motion to quash.

7.

Defendants’ ISP shall confer with plaintiff and shall not assess any charge in
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advance of providing the information requested in the subpoena. If defendants’
ISP receives a subpoena and elects to charge for the costs of production, it shall
provide a billing summary and cost report to plaintiff.
8.

Any information ultimately disclosed to plaintiff in response to a Rule 45
subpoena may be used by plaintiff solely for the purpose of protecting plaintiff's
rights as set forth in its complaint.

It is so ordered.
Dated at New Haven, Connecticut, this 12th day of October 2016.
/s/ Jeffrey Alker Meyer
Jeffrey Alker Meyer
United States District Judge

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