Opinion ID: 1263765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Nationwide Production of Documents

Text: The circuit court compelled the nationwide production by Allstate of all written complaints made against Allstate from 1986 to present. The circuit court also compelled the nationwide production of all regulatory sanctions filed against it from 1990 to present. Allstate contends that the requirement for the nationwide production of written complaint information and all types of regulatory sanction information is too broad, burdensome and cumulative. To support its claim that the circuit court has abused its discretion on the requirements for a nationwide production of documents, Allstate cites our decision in Stephens. In Stephens the plaintiff requested information on all bad faith, unfair trade or settlement practices, and excess verdict claims filed against State Farm throughout the entire country for a ten year period. The Stephens plaintiffs also requested nationwide data on all complaints filed against State Farm with insurance industry regulators for the same period. The defendants objected to the request on the grounds that the requested information was too broad, burdensome, irrelevant, and cumulative. This Court held in syllabus point 2 of Stephens that [u]nder Rule 26(b)(1)(iii) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, a trial court may limit discovery if it finds that the discovery is unduly burdensome or expensive, taking into account the needs of the case, the amount in controversy, limitations on the parties' resources, and the importance of the issues at stake in the litigation. [11] It was stated in syllabus point 3 of Stephens that: Where a claim is made that a discovery request is unduly burdensome under Rule 26(b)(1)(iii) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, the trial court should consider several factors. First, a court should weigh the requesting party's need to obtain the information against the burden that producing the information places on the opposing party. This requires an analysis of the issues in the case, the amount in controversy, and the resources of the parties. Secondly, the opposing party has the obligation to show why the discovery is burdensome unless, in light of the issues, the discovery request is oppressive on its face. Finally, the court must consider the relevancy and materiality of the information sought. Ultimately, in Stephens this Court found the nationwide discovery ordered by the trial court to be an abuse of its discretion. This Court indicated that on remand the circuit court should consider statewide application of the discovery requests. Factually and legally, Stephens is controlling on the nationwide discovery requirements in the instant proceeding. Neither the circuit court orders, nor the record in this case, demonstrate any analysis performed by the trial court in applying the Stephens test. There are no findings of fact, nor conclusions of law, set forth in either discovery order, which illustrates that the court weighed the requesting parties need to obtain the information against the burden that producing the information places on the opposing party. There were no findings of fact, nor conclusions of law setting forth an analysis of the issues in the case, the amount in controversy, and the resources of the parties. Finally, there are no findings of fact or conclusions of law, setting forth the relevancy and materiality of the information sought. The question presented by the lack of findings on this issue, is whether findings should be clearly set forth in non-appealable interlocutory orders presented to this Court by means of an extraordinary writ. This issue is one of first impression for this Court. To begin, it is important to note that the orders in this case were based upon discovery motions. Rule 52(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure states that [f]indings of fact and conclusions of law are unnecessary on decisions of motions under Rules 12 or 56 or any other motion except as provided in subdivision (c) of this rule. (Emphasis added.) This Court qualified Rule 52(a) with respect to Rule 56 summary judgment orders in syllabus point 3 of Fayette County Nat. Bank v. Lilly, 199 W.Va. 349, 484 S.E.2d 232 (1997), wherein it was held that: Although our standard of review for summary judgment remains de novo, a circuit court's order granting summary judgment must set out factual findings sufficient to permit meaningful appellate review. Findings of fact, by necessity, include those facts which the circuit court finds relevant, determinative of the issues and undisputed. In Romer v. Green Point Savings Bank, 27 F.3d 12 (2d Cir.1994) the appellate court observed that under Rule 52(a) of the federal rules of civil procedure a district court was not required to issue an order containing findings, with respect to a request for a temporary restraining order. However, the court observed that: TROs are exempted from the requirement of express findings presumably because they are characteristically issued in haste, in emergency circumstances, to forestall irreparable harm, are of quite limited duration, and are exempt from appellate review. Nonetheless, courts should not be excessively tied to labels. In the rare instance like this one, where the TRO will dispose of all that is at stake in the litigation, it is highly useful for the district court to make findings to explain its ruling.... [W]ithout findings to explain the district court's action, the court of appeals will have difficulty understanding the basis of the ruling and determining whether the district court applied the law correctly. Id., 27 F.3d at 16. Similarly, in United States v. Shaheen, 445 F.2d 6 (7th Cir.1971), the court held that for appellate review purposes findings had to be made even though Rule 52(a) did not require findings for a ruling on a writ ne exeat republica. See also, Bennion v. Pennzoil Co., 826 P.2d 137 (Utah 1992) (holding that in order to facilitate appellate court's review of judgment certified as final for purposes of interlocutory appeal, trial court should henceforth enter findings supporting conclusion that such orders are final). Our research has not uncovered a case which directly addresses the necessity of providing findings in a non-appealable interlocutory order presented to an appellate court by means of an extraordinary writ. However, we note that the general rule regarding the appeal of an appealable interlocutory order, requires the trial court to set forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law. See Geisenhoff v. Geisenhoff, 693 So.2d 489 (Ala. Civ.App.1997); Safadi v. Thompson, 226 Ga. App. 685, 487 S.E.2d 457 (Ga.App.1997); Pawlus v. Bartrug, 109 Ohio App.3d 796, 673 N.E.2d 188 (Ohio App. 9 Dist.1996); Pepe Intern. Development Co. v. Pub Brewing Co., 915 S.W.2d 925 (Tex.App.-Hous.1996); Mariello v. Giguere, 667 A.2d 588 (Me.1995); Sunset Pools of St. Louis, Inc. v. Schaefer, 869 S.W.2d 883 (Mo.App.1994); Responsible Citizens v. Superior Court, 16 Cal.App.4th 1717, 20 Cal.Rptr.2d 756 (1993); Burns v. Alderman, 122 Idaho 749, 838 P.2d 878 (Idaho App.1992); Willie's Const. Co., Inc. v. Baker, 596 N.E.2d 958 (Ind.App.1992); Morris v. Wilson, 600 So.2d 306 (Ala.Civ.App. 1992); Skalbeck v. Agristor Leasing, 384 N.W.2d 209 (Minn.App.1986); Rowe v. Rowe, 74 N.C.App. 54, 327 S.E.2d 624 (N.C.App. 1985); Garriffa v. Taylor, 675 P.2d 1284 (Wyo.1984); Westberry v. Reynolds, 134 Ariz. 29, 653 P.2d 379 (Ariz.App.1982); Lanphere v. Beede, 141 Vt. 126, 446 A.2d 340 (Vt.1982); Nottingham v. Tempel, 509 P.2d 1290 (Colo.App.1973). When a court is under no duty to make findings on an interlocutory order, courts have placed the burden on the complaining party to request the court issue an order containing adequate findings. See Conoco Inc. v. Baskin, 803 S.W.2d 416 (Tex. App.-El Paso 1991); G & S Business Services, Inc. v. Fast Fare, Inc., 94 N.C.App. 483, 380 S.E.2d 792 (N.C.App.1989); Telerent Leasing Corp. v. Equity Associates, Inc., 36 N.C.App. 713, 245 S.E.2d 229 (N.C.App. 1978); Mize v. Sims, 516 S.W.2d 561 (Mo. App.1974). The purpose of findings of fact and conclusions of law is to provide an appellate court with a clear understanding of the lower court's decision. See Mayo v. Lakeland Highlands Canning Co., 309 U.S. 310, 316, 60 S.Ct. 517, 520, 84 L.Ed. 774 (1940); Glover v. Johnson, 855 F.2d 277, 284 (6th Cir. 1988); Wynn Oil Co. v. Purolator Chem. Corp., 536 F.2d 84, 85 (5th Cir.1976). It also serves the purpose of prompting the lower court to fully and conscientiously consider the basis for [the] decision. Finney v. Arkansas Bd. of Correction, 505 F.2d 194, 212 n. 15 (8th Cir.1974). We believe that the general rationale for requiring findings be set out in appealable interlocutory orders, supports a requirement that findings be clearly set forth in non-appealable interlocutory orders presented to this Court through extraordinary writs. Therefore, we hold that a party seeking to petition this Court for an extraordinary writ based upon a non-appealable interlocutory decision of a trial court, must request the trial court set forth in its order findings of fact and conclusions of law that support and form the basis of its decision. In making the request to the trial court, counsel must inform the trial court specifically that the request is being made because counsel intends to seek an extraordinary writ to challenge the court's ruling. When such a request is made, trial courts are obligated to enter an order containing findings of fact and conclusions of law. Absent a request by the complaining party, a trial court is under no duty to set out findings of fact and conclusions of law in non-appealable interlocutory orders. In the instant proceeding the orders do not set out findings of fact and conclusions of law, consistent with a Stephens analysis which will inform this Court of its reasoning in requiring production of documentation of all nationwide complaints, nationwide production of all regulatory sanctions filed against Allstate and the production of nationwide advertising and advertising materials by Allstate. In view of our holding today, we remand the nationwide discovery issue for the purpose of having the trial court set out findings of fact and conclusions of law consistent with the Stephens inquiry. B.