Opinion ID: 463478
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Scope of Discovery and Assertions of Privilege

Text: 8 The district court denied defendants' motion to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action. International Union, UAW v. National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, 366 F.Supp. 46 (D.D.C.1974). During pretrial discovery, defendants refused to disclose either the names and addresses of all employers and businesses that had contributed to the Foundation in 1972, or a list of contributions by companies whose officers or employees were members of the Foundation's Advisory Council. Defendants regarded this information as constitutionally privileged. The district court, however, granted plaintiff's motion to compel discovery. The court's order compelled disclosure by the Foundation of the identities of company donors whose officers or employees were members of the Advisory Council; the names of 37 companies that had donated more than $500 to defendants in 1971; and the names of 37 companies drawn at random from those contributing between $100 and $500 in 1972. Defendants sought a writ of mandamus from this Court to vacate the discovery order. We held, however, that mandamus to vacate the order compelling discovery did not lie. National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation v. Richey, 510 F.2d 1239 (D.C.Cir.) (per curiam), cert. denied, 422 U.S. 1008, 95 S.Ct. 2631, 45 L.Ed.2d 671 (1975). 9