Subpoenaing Social Media and Phone Records: How to Compel Production and Expose Hidden Evidence

Aaron Minc | Minc Law

Aaron Minc is a nationally recognized leader in the area of Internet defamation and is known as the go-to attorney for the most malicious and challenging Internet defamation crises. His work is on the technological forefront of removing damaging content from the Internet, combating defamatory cyberattacks, and uncovering identities of anonymous Internet users. Aaron has developed cost-effective cutting-edge legal solutions for his clients’ most pressing and damaging online problems, while providing them with the peace of mind that these intrusive matters have been resolved.

Aaron Minc represents clients around the world, including individuals, small and mid-size businesses, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, government institutions, and high-profile executives, celebrities, and public figures. For more than fifteen years, he has been at the forefront of Internet defamation law, an area that increasingly depends on mastering digital subpoenas to uncover key evidence hidden within social media platforms, messaging apps, and online networks.

Aaron’s practice centers on using strategic legal tools to expose anonymous online actors, obtain crucial digital records, and permanently remove defamatory and harmful content from the Internet. His extensive experience navigating the intersection of technology and the law allows him to efficiently secure the data necessary to identify defamers, prove wrongdoing, and restore his clients’ reputations. Through subpoenas, discovery, and deep online investigation, Aaron has traced digital footprints across jurisdictions, helping clients resolve complex cases involving competitor defamation, Internet extortion, cyber harassment, and privacy violations.

Aaron has successfully litigated more than 200 Internet defamation lawsuits across 22 states and 3 countries, achieving removals of defamatory content in nearly all of them. His record includes favorable jury verdicts, injunctions, and appellate victories. Over the course of his career, he has facilitated the removal of tens of thousands of false or damaging online materials ranging from websites and social media posts to search results and private content.

A recognized authority in his field, Aaron is frequently invited by national media to comment on online privacy and defamation issues. He also trains business owners, professionals, and fellow attorneys on strategies for managing digital evidence and responding to online attacks.

Aaron lives in Moreland Hills, Ohio, with his wife and two sons. A Northeast Ohio native, he enjoys skiing, golf, and spending time with family and friends.

Michael Pelagalli | Minc Law

Michael Pelagalli is an experienced attorney who understands the urgency of uncovering and addressing online attacks when a client’s reputation is at stake. With years of litigation experience, he has developed a deep understanding of how to identify, preserve, and obtain critical digital evidence whether from social media platforms, online forums, or mobile communications to support his clients’ defamation and reputation management cases.

Michael’s work focuses on mastering the strategic use of digital subpoenas to access vital online and phone based information that can make or break a case. He has successfully used these tools to trace anonymous defamers, authenticate online communications, and establish damages in courts across the country. His expertise bridges the gap between traditional defamation law and modern digital discovery, allowing him to craft tailored legal strategies that protect clients in an era where reputational harm often begins and spreads online.

Throughout his career, Michael has represented corporations, executives, professionals, and individuals in complex defamation and digital evidence matters. His record of favorable verdicts, settlements, and equitable relief demonstrates his ability to turn digital evidence into decisive courtroom results. Clients trust Michael not only for his legal skill but for his ability to provide clarity, action, and peace of mind during high-stakes, technology-driven disputes.

Outside the office, Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, and coaching rugby in the greater Cleveland area.

I. Legal frameworks & drafting effective subpoenas | 1:00pm – 1:20pm

• Understanding the Stored Communications Act, state discovery rules, and how to craft narrowly-tailored requests that withstand overbreadth objections while maximizing the likelihood of obtaining useful data

II. Cross-jurisdictional & multi-platform discovery coordination | 1:20pm – 1:40pm

• Domesticating subpoenas across state lines and dealing with foreign platforms and international data requests

III. Platform compliance & overcoming objections | 1:40pm – 2:00pm

• Handling typical pushback from social media companies and ISPs, strategies for meet-and-confer negotiations, motions to authorize discovery, motions to compel, and dealing with deleted content or uncooperative platforms

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

IV. Evidence preservation & spoliation prevention | 2:10pm – 2:25pm

• Implementing preservation strategies before litigation, issuing effective preservation letters, and building a foundation for spoliation sanctions when digital evidence is destroyed or altered

V. Unmasking anonymous users & John Doe procedures | 2:25pm – 2:40pm

• Step-by-step process for identifying anonymous defendants, navigating Cable Privacy Act requirements, coordinating subpoenas across multiple platforms and ISPs, and managing data retention concerns.