Seventh Circuit Treats Subpoena as Part of Pleadings under FRCP 10(c)

Per McCready v. EBay, Inc., 453 F.3d 882 (7th Cir. July 10, 2006):

…[Plaintiff] McCready alleged that McDuffee, acting as Kamminga's lawyer, served eBay with a "phony" subpoena. eBay complied with the subpoena and gave McDuffee printouts of electronic communications involving McCready. McCready claims he did not become aware of the subpoena until his appeal to the Sixth Circuit and that these events violated the ECPA [Electronic Communications Privacy Act] and SCA [Stored Communications Act].

At the 12(b)(6) stage, we typically would be confined to McCready's complaint, which did not contain the subpoena. Rosenblum v. Travelbyus.com Ltd., 299 F.3d 657, 661 (7th Cir.2002). But Rule 10(c) provides that "[a] copy of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes." From this rule, we have concluded " 'documents attached to a motion to dismiss are considered part of the pleadings if they are referred to in the plaintiff's complaint and are central to his claim.' " 188 LLC v. Trinity Indus., Inc., 300 F.3d 730, 735 (7th Cir.2002) (quoting Wright v. Assoc. Ins. Cos., 29 F.3d 1244, 1248 (7th Cir.1994)); see Cont'l Cas. Co. v. Am. Nat'l Ins. Co., 417 F.3d 727, 731 n. 3 (7th Cir.2005) (" '[T]his rule includes a limited class of attachments to Rule 12(b)(6) motions' that are 'central to the plaintiff's claim." ') (quoting Rosenblum, 299 F.3d at 661). We are " 'not bound to accept [McCready's] allegations as to the effect of the [subpoena], but can independently examine the document and form [our] own conclusions as to the proper construction and meaning to be given the material.' " Rosenblum, 299 F.3d at 661 (quoting 5 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1327 at 766 (2d ed.1990)). The heart of McCready's lawsuit is based upon the subpoena, to which he made repeated reference in his complaint. The subpoena was included by the defense in its motion to dismiss, and there is no factual dispute as to its contents. Thus, we may look at the subpoena without converting the motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment.