If your department or office receives a subpoena or other legal process, DO NOT accept it.
Contact the Office of General Counsel immediately at 410-455-2870 or OGC@umbc.edu.
All UMBC employees, including faculty, staff, administrators, and student employees acting in their institutional capacity, must follow these procedures upon receiving or being presented with any subpoena, complaint, summons, court order, or other legal process directed to the University or seeking University records:
- Do NOT accept service. You are not an authorized agent for acceptance of legal process on behalf of UMBC or the State of Maryland. Inform the process server that you are not authorized to accept service on behalf of the University and that they must direct service to the Office of the Attorney General, Civil Litigation Division, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 or civil_service@oag.state.md.us.
- Contact the Office of General Counsel immediately. Report the attempted service to the OGC as soon as possible and no later than the same business day. Prompt notification is essential to protect the University’s legal rights and ensure timely response deadlines are met.
- Preserve the document. If a subpoena or other legal process is nonetheless left with you or mailed to your office, do not discard it. Preserve it in its original form and deliver it to the OGC without delay.
- Do not produce documents or records without OGC authorization. Even if you believe a subpoena or legal demand is valid, do not produce, compile, or disclose any University records, data, or communications in response without written authorization from the OGC. Premature or unauthorized disclosure may waive the University’s legal protections, including FERPA-protected student records, personnel records, and attorney-client privileged materials.
- Do not attempt to respond on behalf of the University. Do not retain outside legal counsel, communicate with opposing counsel, or make representations about the University’s position in any legal proceeding without coordinating through the OGC.
Questions regarding this guidance or the proper handling of any legal process received by your department should be directed to the OGC. The OGC is available to provide guidance, coordinate with the Office of the Attorney General, and ensure that the University’s legal rights are protected.
The information on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice on any particular matter. Legal advice must be tailored to the specific facts of an issue. For guidance on a specific university matter, please submit a request through the Legal Services Portal.