Subpoena...

Okay all, I just got subpoenad. My girlfriend is freaking out because she thinks it means I've missed a court date and am in shit now? From what I've read, it's just an order to testify in court..? I haven't been told of any court date until now, which will be in December.

Anyone care to chime in?

 

you didn't get the memo? oh crap he didnt get the memo.
you know why they call it the "pokey" dont ya?

 

Flee to Canada. . . owait.

 

nice!

 

Could it have to do with something you witnessed or was involved in during your line of work?

 

It was a call that I did back in December, yes. But this is just a request to testify in court, correct..? My girlfriend is making it sound like I'm in shit. Shes taking police and criminal justice studies right now, and for some reason is under the impression that I'm in some deep dookie.

 

not a "request". They are telling you you have to be there on that date. You're not in trouble unless you broke the law.

 

A Subpoena is just telling you to be at court. For what reason, you should know.

 

So really, it's a "summons" and not a subpoena? Frick I hate all this legal crap. I didn't do anything wrong... in my eyes...

 

depends on if what you did was detrimental to the pt or you were negligent in not providing care. If neither was the case, someone is trying to get money and the lawyers want to gather all of the facts.

 

SUBPOENA

An order directed to an individual commanding him to appear in court on a certain day to testify or produce documents in a pending lawsuit.
A process to cause a witness to appear and give testimony, commanding him to lay aside all pretences and excuses, and appear before a court or magistrate therein named, at a time therein mentioned, to testify for the party named, under a penalty therein mentioned. This is usually called a subpoena ad testificandum.
On proof of service of a subpoena upon the witness, and that he is material, an attachment way be issued against him for a contempt, if he neglect to attend as commanded.
chancery practice. A mandatory writ or process, directed to and requiring one or more persons to appear at a time to come, and answer the matters charged against him or them; the writ of subpoena was originally a process in the courts of common law, to enforce the attendance of a witness to give evidence; but this writ was used in the court of chancery for the game purpose as a citation in the courts of civil and canon law, to compel the appearance of a defendant, and to oblige him to answer upon oath the allegations of the plaintiff.

 

I assisted a police officer who was being overpowered and eye gouged by a psych pt. that had his hand on the officers holstered sidearm. I didn't feel like being shot, in the emergency room, so I took them both to the ground...

We're told we're supposed to run away like little girls, and not do anything like this... so I have a feeling I'm going to be suspended.

 

Subpoena means you have to show up. If you don't they can resort to other means of getting your attention . . .

Sounds like you're being subpoenaed as a witness or to offer testimony in some fashion. Giving testimony is easy, so don't stress over it, and the place where you testify probably won't look like a courtroom. It'll probably look more like some manner of corporate meeting room.

Just remember. Answer the question directly, and keep your answers short, simple, and straightforward. The more information you offer the more questions they're likely to ask.

It's really not that bad. Tell the GF to chillax.

 

I've already submitted a written report of the incident, to my employer and the police, and have also had a recorded interview with the arresting officer. Jeeze this is a PITA! I've told her to chill about it, but she got me kinda freaked out about it. Sounds like it will be minor. I'm not too worried about it now.

 

Nice x2

Good use of the rarely seen "rim shot" icon...

 

Subpoena is no big deal. Show up, see what they need.

 

The officer most likely has charged that individual with assault on a police officer, and if the gentleman tries to plead not guilty you will be called as a witness to the incident. No big deal, just show up....cuz if you don't Mr. Officer will come looking for you.

And good call on helping the officer, I know in our state if an officer is in need of help and you do nothing to help the officer you can be charged criminally.

 

As everyone mentioned, you're not in trouble. Not hating so don't take this the wrong way but your gf should know that if she's going to school for this lol.

As for the part about you not helping and them thinking you should run away. I think you did the right thing. Potentially saving the officer or someone elses life goes before standard protocol IMO. Then again, I don't work in the field, but still. If I saw someone going for an officers gun and I was in that position I wouldn't think twice about acting.