Expert: Mark C. Robins - 3/30/2006

Question
I am being harrassed on-line by someone claiming to be a "private investigator", who is apparently not licensed at all.  He has threatened to subpoena me to appear at a court hearing in which I have no interest, information or legal reason to appear except for the fact that the act of obtaining the subpoena for this action will enable this "private investigator" to garner my home address and phone number.  I fear this "private investigator" will use this information to further harrass and stalk me, as well as spread this information to his "friends" for the same reasons.

My questions to you are these:  Is there any legal recourse against this "private investigator" if he succeeds in procuring my home address and phone number and it turns out to be a waste of both my and the court's time?  Can anyone subpoena anyone else (for a civil law suit) based purely on an "investigator"'s whims or does there need to be probable cause brought to the courts first?  Can the "investigator" be publicly sanctioned by the court for deliberately misleading the court, wasting the court's time and harrassing an innocent party by misusing the court's power?

Answer
Really no, unless you have evidence that this person has in fact breached the "Criminal Harassement Law" then you would contact the police.
As to the court appearance, you only need responde to a court issued Supoena.
It is doubtful that any individual could get one issued wthout some foundation.
Are you sure this person claimed to be a
"Lic. Private Investigator" or in fact has this person held themselves out as a "Investigative Consultant"?