Civil discovery: sanctions.

The Civil Discovery Act authorizes a party to a civil action to obtain discovery, as specified, by inspecting documents, tangible things, land or other property, and electronically stored information in the possession of any other party to the action. Existing law authorizes a court, after notice to any affected party, person, or attorney, and after opportunity for hearing, to impose sanctions against anyone engaging in conduct that is a misuse of the discovery process, as specified. (1) This bill would, upon order of the court following stipulation by all parties in a civil action, require a party to, within 45 days of the court order, provide to the other parties an initial disclosure that includes certain information related to discoverable information, as specified. (2) The bill would, except as specified, also require a court, after notice to any party, person, or attorney, and after opportunity for a hearing, to impose a $250 sanction against a party, person, or attorney upon findings that the party, person, or attorney (1) failed to respond in good faith to a document request, (2) produced the requested documents within 7 days of a motion to compel that is filed by the requesting party as a result of the other party, person, or attorney's failure to respond in good faith, or (3) failed to meet and confer in person, by telephone, or by letter to resolve any dispute regarding the request. The bill would authorize the court to require an attorney to report the sanction in writing to the State Bar within 30 days of the imposition of the sanction. The bill would also authorize the court to excuse the imposition of the sanction if the court makes written findings that the person subject to the sanction acted with substantial justification or that other circumstances make the imposition of the sanction unjust.