Opinion ID: 1663200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: denial of further discovery

Text: During pretrial discovery proceedings, Holland served interrogatories demanding that Red River furnish the names of managers of all branch offices and the salary and bonus paid to each for a four-year period. Holland also requested production of tax returns of both corporations and Internal Revenue forms 941 and W-2 for the same period. Upon Red River's refusal to comply, Holland moved to compel compliance. The trial court, at the same time it ordered summary judgment on the original complaint and dismissal of the third-party action, denied the motion to compel discovery on the ground that some of the information demanded in the interrogatories had been furnished and that the tax returns were immaterial and irrelevant. In view of the dismissal of the third-party complaint, which we have found to be proper, on grounds which would not have been affected by production of the tax returns and other information sought, it was entirely appropriate for the trial court to deny the motion to compel discovery. Having held that Red River should not be sued in the third-party action, the court was entirely correct in holding that the discovery sought was immaterial and irrelevant. In a future action it may, of course, be material and relevant.