Opinion ID: 1611019
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: did the court err in granting summary judgment prior to the completion of discovery?

Text: The Court first addresses the sequence of pleadings and the discovery performed as shown in this record. The original complaint was filed on July 3, 1985. Before Getty's answer was due, and pursuant to agreed order Holifield filed his first amended complaint on September 24, 1985. Both complaints were founded solely on the theory of negligence. A second amended complaint was filed on October 17, 1985. Holifield charged Getty with negligence and alleged strict liability in tort. Getty's answer was filed on November 6, 1985, followed by its motion for summary judgment filed on December 24, 1985. The motion was noticed for hearing at the pre-trial conference scheduled for January 16, 1986. Holifield moved for a protective order on the grounds that one defendant, Mike Cheeseman, was not in court and discovery was incomplete. At the January 16, 1986, pre-trial conference the case was continued. The missing defendant answered on January 13, 1986. The appellant's deposition was taken on January 17, 1986, and the depositions of defendants, Mike Cheeseman, Frank Austin, Austin Oil, Inc., Getty Oil Company (Walter Cornelius), and Pitts Swabbing Company (Billy Joe Pitts, Jr. and Chester Ray Russell, Jr.) were taken on February 28, 1986. The pre-trial conference for the March 1986 Term of Court was set for March 18, 1986. A scheduling order was entered, and the case was again continued. The order provided that appellant's request for discovery, including depositions, interrogatories and production, was to be filed no later than sixty (60) days from March 18, 1986. The case was again continued. Getty moved for summary judgment and a motion hearing was set for May 23, 1986, by agreement. Additional affidavits in support of the motion were filed by Getty on May 13, 1986. On May 21, 1986, appellant filed his motion to amend the scheduling order, designation of expert witnesses, and response to the motion for summary judgment. The Court overruled Holifield's earlier-filed motion for a protective order and overruled his motion to amend the scheduling order. These rulings were made from the bench and orders were entered on May 26, 1986, and again on July 22, 1986. The Court also sustained Getty's motion for summary judgment, and a final judgment as to Getty was entered on August 27, 1986. From the time the original complaint was filed until the entry of the final judgment as to Getty, the only discovery filed or initiated by Holifield were the depositions taken on February 28, 1986, pursuant to notice. Getty (and all other defendants) fully complied with Holifield's request for production in connection with the depositions. Holifield states that summary judgment should not be granted before discovery has been completed, citing Alabama Farm Bureau Mutual Cas. Co. v. American Fidelity Life Insurance Co., 606 F.2d 602, 609 (5th Cir.1979); Comment to Rule 56, Miss. R.Civ.P., and 10 C. Wright, A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, Civil, § 2711-2742 (1973). However, the Alabama Farm Bureau Mutual Cas. Co. decision held that summary judgment should not ordinarily be granted before discovery was completed, but acknowledged that such might be available in a proper case. Alabama, at 609. Holifield states that numerous factual issues were disputed in regard to defects and responsibilities of the various defendants for the defects he claims but his motions for further discovery were precipitously denied. Holifield cites Miss.R.Civ.P. 56(f) and § 11-7-123, Miss. Code Ann. (1972), for the proposition that the court is required to grant a continuance and not grant a motion for summary judgment prematurely. On the other hand, Getty, contends that Holifield had ample opportunity to exercise his discovery rights, but the only discovery filed were the depositions of February 28, 1986. Getty further states that Holifield failed to comply with the procedure required by Rule 56(f) in making an application for continuance. In a recent case Marx v. Truck Renting & Leasing Ass'n., 520 So.2d 1333 (Miss. 1987), this same issue was considered. This Court stated that: The party resisting summary judgment must present specific facts why he cannot oppose the motion and must specifically demonstrate how postponement of a ruling on the motion will enable him, by discovery or other means, to rebut the movant's showing of the absence of a genuine issue of fact. United States v. Little Al, 712 F.2d 133, 135 (5th Cir.1983), [citing Securities & Exchange Commission v. Spence & Green Chemical Co., 612 F.2d 896, 901 (5th Cir. 1980)]. The party opposing the motion for summary judgment may not rely on vague assertions that discovery will produce needed, but unspecified, facts particularly where there was ample time and opportunity for discovery. Securities & Exchange Commission v. Spence & Green Chemical Co., 612 F.2d 896, 901 (5th Cir.1980); see also, Aviation Specialties, Inc. v. United Technologies Corp., 568 F.2d 1186, 1189 (5th Cir.1978) [failure to conduct discovery where case was on docket for six months bars application of 56(f)]. This is so because Rule 56(f) is not designed to protect the litigants who are lazy or dilatory and normally the party invoking Rule 56(f) must show what steps have been taken to obtain access to the information allegedly within the exclusive possession of the other party. 10A Wright, Miller & Kane, Federal Practice & Procedure, § 2741 at 549. Finally, the determination as to the adequacies of the non-movant's Rule 56(f) affidavits and the decision to grant a continuance or order further discovery rests within the sound discretion of the trial judge and will not be reversed unless his decision can be characterized as an abuse of discretion. Fontenot v. Upjohn Co., 780 F.2d 1190, 1193 (5th Cir.1986). 520 So.2d at 1344. In this case, Holifield had ample time and opportunity to file discovery requests and to depose his own experts. In the Court's opinion, this assignment is without merit. This Court finds that the trial court was correct in granting Getty's motion for summary judgment and the ruling is affirmed. AFFIRMED. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., HAWKINS, P.J., and ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON, GRIFFIN and ZUCCARO, JJ., concur. DAN M. LEE, P.J., dissents as to Part IV with no written opinion.