Opinion ID: 1359492
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Mandamus or Prohibition

Text: In the instant proceeding, petitioner has sought alternative relief in the form of mandamus or prohibition. This court has previously issued a writ of mandamus compelling a district court to vacate a discovery order under circumstances similar to the present case. See Clark v. District Court, 101 Nev. 58, 692 P.2d 512 (1985) (writ of mandamus issued upon finding that a district court had exceeded its jurisdiction in ordering production and disclosure of privileged information); see also Schlatter v. District Court, 93 Nev. 189, 561 P.2d 1342 (1977) (writ issued upon finding that district court had exceeded its jurisdiction in ordering discovery of irrelevant matter). Moreover, a writ of mandamus may be issued to compel performance of an act that the law requires as a duty resulting from an office, trust or station if there exists no plain, speedy, and adequate remedy at law. NRS 34.160; NRS 34.170. Notwithstanding the foregoing precedent, in the case of State ex rel. Tidvall v. District Court, 91 Nev. 520, 524, 539 P.2d 456, 458 (1975), this court held that [p]rohibition is the remedy which is generally employed to prevent improper discovery (citations omitted). We reaffirm, without the necessity of overruling either Clark or Schlatter, that prohibition is a more appropriate remedy for the prevention of improper discovery than mandamus. Writ relief is an available remedy, where, as here, petitioners have no plain, speedy and adequate remedy at law other than to petition this court. If improper discovery were allowed, the assertedly privileged information would irretrievably lose its confidential and privileged quality and petitioners would have no effective remedy, even by a later appeal. Schlatter, 93 Nev. at 193, 561 P.2d at 1344. Therefore, a writ of prohibition will issue to prevent discovery required by court order entered in excess of the court's jurisdiction. Although this court will infrequently exercise its discretion to entertain pre-trial challenges to discovery, there are occasions where, in the absence of writ relief, the resulting prejudice would not only be irreparable, but of a magnitude that could require the imposition of such drastic remedies as dismissal with prejudice or other similar sanctions.