908.49—Deposition of witness unavailable for hearing.
(a) General rules.
(1)
A party desiring to preserve that witness' testimony for the record may apply in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section to the presiding officer for the issuance of a subpoena, including a subpoena duces tecum, requiring the attendance of the witness at a deposition. The presiding officer may issue a deposition subpoena under this section upon a showing that—
(ii)
Taking the deposition will not result in any undue burden to any other party and will not cause undue delay of the proceeding.
(2)
The application must contain a proposed deposition subpoena and a brief statement of the reasons for the issuance of the subpoena. The subpoena must name the witness whose deposition is to be taken and specify the time and place for taking the deposition. A deposition subpoena may require the witness to be deposed anywhere within the United States and its possessions and territories in which that witness resides or has a regular place of employment or such other convenient place as the presiding officer shall fix.
(3)
A subpoena shall be promptly issued upon request, unless the presiding officer determines that the request fails to set forth a valid basis under this section for its issuance. The presiding officer shall make a determination that there is a valid basis for issuing the subpoena. The presiding officer may require a written response from the party requesting the subpoena or require attendance at a conference to determine whether there is a valid basis upon which to issue the requested subpoena.
(4)
The party obtaining a deposition subpoena is responsible for serving it on the witness and for serving copies on all parties. Unless the presiding officer orders otherwise, no deposition under this section shall be taken on fewer than ten (10) days' notice to the witness and all parties. Deposition subpoenas may be served anywhere within the United States or its possessions or territories on any person doing business anywhere within the United States or its possessions or territories, or as otherwise permitted by law.
(b) Objections to deposition subpoenas.
(1)
The witness and any party who has not had an opportunity to oppose a deposition subpoena issued under this section may file a motion under § 908.45 with the presiding officer to quash or modify the subpoena prior to the time for compliance specified in the subpoena, but not more than ten (10) days after service of the subpoena.
(2)
A statement of the basis for the motion to quash or modify a subpoena issued under this section shall accompany the motion. The motion must be served on all parties.
(c) Procedure upon deposition.
(1)
Each witness testifying pursuant to a deposition subpoena shall be duly sworn and each party shall have the right to examine the witness. Objections to questions or documents must be in short form, stating the grounds for the objection. Failure to object to questions or documents is not deemed a waiver except where the ground for objection might have been avoided if the objection had been presented timely. All questions, answers and objections must be recorded.
(2)
Any party may move before the presiding officer for an order compelling the witness to answer any questions the witness has refused to answer or submit any evidence that, during the deposition, the witness has refused to submit.
(3)
The deposition shall be subscribed by the witness, unless the parties and the witness, by stipulation, have waived the signing, or the witness is ill, cannot be found, or has refused to sign. If the deposition is not subscribed by the witness, the court reporter taking the deposition shall certify that the transcript is a true and complete transcript of the deposition.
(d) Enforcing subpoenas.
If a subpoenaed person fails to comply with any subpoena issued pursuant to this section or with any order of the presiding officer made upon motion under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the subpoenaing party or other aggrieved party may, to the extent authorized by applicable law, apply to an appropriate United States district court for an order requiring compliance with the portions of the subpoena that the presiding officer has ordered enforced. A party's right to seek court enforcement of a deposition subpoena in no way limits the sanctions that may be imposed by the presiding officer on a party who fails to comply with or induces a failure to comply with a subpoena issued under this section.