Federico et al v. Lincoln Military Housing, LLC et al

Filing 325

MEMORANDUM ORDER granting in part and denying in part 226 MOTION to QUASH AND/OR LIMIT SUBPOENAS DUCES TECUM ISSUED TO LOCAL TV. LLC, D/B/A WTKR TELEVISION, AND LAURIE SIMMONS AND OBJECTIONS TO SUBPOENAS DUCES TECUM. Signed by Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller and filed on 8/13/14. (tbro)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Norfolk Division

SHELLEY FEDERICO, et al.,
Plaintiffs,

v.

CaseNo.:2:12-CV-80

LINCOLN MILITARY HOUSING, LLC, et al.,
Defendants.

MEMORANDUM ORDER

This consolidated action involves claims of injury and damage allegedly arising from

mold in military housing provided by certain Defendants under long-term agreements with the

United States Military. The matters raised by the various actions received coverage by the media,

including extensive coverage by local television station, WTKR. As a result, Defendants issued
subpoenas to WTKR and its reporter Laurie Simmons, seeking information related to the
litigation. Both Simmons and WTKR filed a Motion to Quash (ECF No. 226) the subpoena and
the parties, by counsel, appeared for oral argument. For the reasons stated on the record, the
Court GRANTED in part and DENIED in part the motion, and issues this Memorandum Order to
articulate the view of the law underlying this decision.

As written, Defendants' subpoenas requested far more information than necessary or

relevant to the present actions. For example, the subpoenas define "Home" and "Homes" as

"each and every home owned or managed by Defendants during the period covered by the
Consolidated Actions." (ECF No. 226-1 at 7 and ECF No. 226-2 at 7). These definitions, which

are used throughout the subpoenas, are unnecessarily broad - encompassing properties owned or
managed by Defendants nationwide, far beyond the scope of WTKR's localized coverage.
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