Court Opinion

ID: 6470747
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-26 14:15:32.659395+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:53:48.122601
License: Public Domain

LOPEZ, Judge (specially concurring). I agree with Judge SUTIN’S opinion, but specially concur to comment on the trial court’s decision to dismiss as to all defendants. There is a paucity of case law on the sanctions to be applied where only some multiple parties are participating in discovery. With this case we should begin to articulate the considerations which are at play in imposing sanctions in multiparty litigation. The defendants Dickson & Dubois filed the interrogatories, obtained the order to compel discovery, and noticed the deposition of the Pizza Hut employees. Dickson & Dubois alone moved for dismissal when the plaintiff failed to comply with the court’s order. The basis of liability against some of the defendants, including Dickson & Dubois, appears to be respondeat superior liability for the alleged breach of contract by other defendants. The interrogatories at issue addressed the underlying issue of the breach of contract, and thus were helpful to all defendants. There were no other issues outstanding against any of the defendants. Thus on the facts of this case I would agree that the trial court properly exercised its discretion, in light of the substantial interest which all parties had in this discovery and the lack of independent claims unaffected by this discovery.