Opinion ID: 1431745
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: filing discovery depositions

Text: The purpose behind the requirement for filing discovery documents concurrently with filing a motion for summary judgment [1] is to afford a responding party a meaningful opportunity to challenge the documents submitted. Macaraeg v. Wilson, 749 P.2d 272 (Wyo. 1988). We recently held, however, in Atlas Construction Company v. Slater, 746 P.2d 352 (Wyo. 1987), that the failure to file depositions at the time of filing a motion for summary judgment is not reversible error unless it affects a substantial right. Wales has failed to demonstrate to this Court how he was prejudiced by RV Enterprises' failure to timely file the depositions it used to support its motion for summary judgment. The record, however, reflects that, in addition to the court entering two orders allowing RV Enterprises to use the subject depositions, the court offered to vacate and reset the hearing if Wales was in any way surprised by their use. Wales not only disclaimed surprise or unfamiliarity, he used the same depositions to support his motion for summary judgment without having filed them at the time he filed his motion. The depositions were before the court when it ruled on the motion for summary judgment and, like in Atlas Construction Company, the failure of RV Enterprises to timely file the depositions was a technical imperfection which did not affect a substantial right of Wales and was not reversible error.