Court Opinion

ID: 9751098
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 16:05:03.135106+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:26:35.071885
License: Public Domain

*225Dissenting Opinion by
Judge MacPhail:
I cannot quarrel with the majority opinion that the sanction imposed by the trial judge was within his discretion, hut I am compelled to conclude that in this instance, that discretion was abused.
The papers sought by Petitioner’s counsel were at the hearing and were presented to counsel before the hearing commenced. The precise nature of the matter sought to be discovered was Petitioner’s prior record with DOT. That was exhibited to counsel, albeit well beyond the prescribed time for doing so.
It would seem to me that the imposition of sanctions under these circumstances produces a harsh and even unwarranted result. Surely there has been no prejudice to the Petitioner since he knew what his prior violations were. If the DOT record was not correct, he was in no better or worse position by reason of his late knowledge of that fact.
I would reverse and remand for a hearing on the merits.