Title: Ragan v. Blazon Flexible Flyer, Inc.

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

590 So. 2d 882 (1991)
Michael RAGAN, Through his Mother and Next Friend, Barbara Ragan
v.
BLAZON FLEXIBLE FLYER, INC., and Jess Jennings.
Michael RAGAN, et al.
v.
Jess JENNINGS, et al.
89-1819, 1901078.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
November 1, 1991.
Thomas R. Roper of Veigas & Cox, P.C., Alan T. Rogers and Michael D. Freeman of Balch & Bingham, Birmingham, for appellee Blazon Flexible Flyer, Inc.
Joseph C. Kellett of Kellett, Gillis & Kellett, P.A., Fort Payne, for appellee Jess Jennings.
STEAGALL, Justice.
Michael Ragan, through his mother and next friend, Barbara Ragan, appeals from the trial court's dismissal, pursuant to Rules 37(b) and 41(b), A.R.Civ.P., of his case for refusal to provide discovery. The Ragans' January 12, 1983, complaint, as amended, alleged a products liability claim against Blazon Flexible Flyer, Inc. ("Blazon"), and a negligence claim against Joel Burt, Charles Mauney, Olivia Mauney, and Jess Jennings. After seven years of discovery, the trial court, on June 28, 1990, dismissed the Ragans' case with prejudice. The trial court's order reads:
This Court has stated on numerous occasions that the trial court is vested with broad and considerable discretion in managing the discovery process. See Iverson v. Xpert Tune, Inc., 553 So. 2d 82 (Ala. 1989), and cases cited therein. The trial court possesses the authority to impose reasonable and appropriate sanctions against a party for failure to comply with the discovery process and the court orders resulting therefrom. Id. As a reviewing court, we will not disturb the trial court's choice of discovery sanctions on appeal absent some abuse of discretion. Johnson v. Langley, 495 So. 2d 1061 (Ala.1986).
Our review of the record convinces us that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the case based on the Ragans' willful refusal to provide discovery. Therefore, the trial court's judgment is due to be, and it is hereby, affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
HORNSBY, C.J., and ALMON, ADAMS and INGRAM, JJ., concur.
[1]  On October 4, 1990, the trial court entered an amended judgment, acknowledging that Jess Jennings remained a party to the action.