“A basic premise of our system of justice is that both sides to a dispute stand on equal footing in gathering evidence and preparing for trial. The discovery rules are not ends in themselves, but are meant to aid in the search for the truth.” (See Diamond Fields v. Ochsner Med. Ctr.- Kenner, No. 22-C-64, at *6 (La. Ct. App. May 11, 2022); Hicks v. USAA Gen. Indem. Co. (2022) 339 So. 3d 1106, 1112.)
“To that end, this Court has previously summarized the objectives of the Louisiana discovery process as affording all parties a fair opportunity to obtain facts pertinent to the litigation, discovering the true facts and compelling disclosure of these facts wherever they may be found, and assisting litigants in preparing their cases for trial.” (See id.)
“Discovery statutes are to be liberally and broadly construed to achieve their intended objectives.” (See id.)
“Discovery should be allowed where such discovery relates to the claim or defense of the party seeking discovery or to the claim or defense of any other party, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition, and location of any books, documents, or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of any discoverable matter." (See Molaison v. Cust-O-Fab Specialty Servs. (2022) 343 So. 3d 866, 872.)
“Written interrogatories and production of documents are specifically set forth as discovery methods.” (See Cole, Evans v. T.F. (2006) 935 So. 2d 841, 844.)
Interrogatories are governed under subsections 1457-1459 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Revised Statutes.
“Any party may serve upon any other party written interrogatories to be answered by the party served or, if the party served is a public or private corporation or a partnership or association or governmental agency, by any officer or agent, who shall furnish such information as is available to the party. Interrogatories may accompany the petition or be served after commencement of the action and without leave of court.” (See La. C.P. § 1457(A).)
“During an entire proceeding, written interrogatories served in accordance with Paragraph A shall not exceed thirty-five in number, including subparts, without leave of court. Additional interrogatories, not to exceed thirty-five in number including subparts, shall be allowed upon ex parte motion of any party.” (See La. C.P. § 1457(B).)
“Thereafter, any party desiring to serve additional interrogatories shall file a written motion setting forth the proposed additional interrogatories and the reasons establishing good cause why they should be allowed to be filed. The court after contradictory hearing and for good cause shown may allow the requesting party to serve such additional interrogatories as the court deems appropriate. Local rules of court may provide a greater restriction on the number of written interrogatories.” (See id.)
“Each interrogatory shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath, unless it is objected to, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated in lieu of an answer. The written answer or reasons for objection to each interrogatory shall immediately follow a restatement of the interrogatory to which the answer or objection is responding. The answers are to be signed by the person making them.” (See La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 1458(A).)
“When interrogatories are served on a specific party, that party shall verify he has read and confirmed the answers and objections. The party upon whom the interrogatories have been served shall serve a copy of the answers, and objections if any, within thirty days after the service of the interrogatories, except as set forth in Paragraph B of this Article. The court may allow a shorter or longer time. The party submitting the interrogatories may move for an order under Article 1469 with respect to any objection to or other failure to answer an interrogatory.” (See id.)
“The standard of review for discovery matters is abuse of discretion.” (See Jones v. Quality Distribution, Inc., No. 2022-CA-0104, at *4 (La. Ct. App. Sep. 14, 2022)
“Generally, an abuse of discretion results from a conclusion reached capriciously or in an arbitrary manner.” (See Sullivan v. Brookshire Grocery Co. & Sealy Uptown, LLC (2022) 348 So. 3d 872, 875.)
“The word ‘arbitrary’ implies a disregard of evidence or the proper weight thereof. A conclusion is ‘capricious’ when there is no substantial evidence to support it or the conclusion is contrary to substantiated competent evidence.” (See id.)
“Although a reviewing court defers to reasonable decisions within the trial court's discretion, a decision based upon an erroneous interpretation or application of the law, rather than a valid exercise of discretion, is not entitled to such deference.” (See id.)
It is well settled that “since courts are to construe discovery statutes liberally and broadly, including those provisions addressing the scope of discovery, any relevant unprivileged information, whether or not admissible at trial and whether documents or tangible things, is discoverable.” (See In re Marriage of Kuntz (2008) 998 So. 2d 120, 124; Moak v. Illinois Central Railroad (1994) 631 So. 2d 401, 406.)
As such, it is well settled that “the discovery articles grant the trial court the power to compel discovery and the discretion to impose various sanctions on a party or his attorney for unjustified failure to comply with the statutory scheme or to obey an order compelling discovery.” (See Reich, Album & Plunkett, L.L.C. v. Mugnier (2021) 334 So. 3d 986, 989.)
May 10, 2024
Active
Hon. Burris, William H.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
May 08, 2024
Active
Hon. Zaunbrecher, Alan A.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Apr 23, 2024
District
Orleans Parish, LA
Petition For Discovery
Apr 18, 2024
Active
Hon. Lobello, Vincent J.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Apr 10, 2024
Active
Hon. Black, Alan M.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Apr 09, 2024
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:JOHNSON, DONALD R.
District
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Apr 08, 2024
Active
Hon. Lobello, Vincent J.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Mar 15, 2024
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:JOHNSON, RONALD R.
District
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Mar 13, 2024
Active
Hon. Swartz, Richard A.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Mar 07, 2024
Active
Hon. Amacker, Dawn
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Mar 07, 2024
Active
Hon. Swartz, Richard A.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Mar 04, 2024
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:JOHNSON, RONALD R.
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Mar 04, 2024
Active
Hon. Badeaux, Reginald T., III
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Feb 29, 2024
Active
Hon. Lobello, Vincent J.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Feb 28, 2024
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Petition For Discovery
Feb 08, 2024
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:JOHNSON-ROSE, EBONI
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Feb 08, 2024
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:JOHNSON, DONALD R.
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Feb 07, 2024
Active
Hon. Zeller, Tara F.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Feb 05, 2024
Active
Hon. Keller, John A.
District
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Feb 02, 2024
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Other (Special Proceeding)
Feb 01, 2024
Active
Hon. Swartz, Richard A.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Jan 31, 2024
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:JORDEN, WILLIAM
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Jan 29, 2024
Active
Hon. Burris, William H.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Jan 18, 2024
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:BALFOUR, KELLY
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Jan 08, 2024
Active
Hon. Swartz, Richard A.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Jan 05, 2024
Active
Hon. Black, Alan M.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Jan 04, 2024
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Petition For Discovery
Jan 04, 2024
Active
Hon. Lobello, Vincent J.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Declaratory Judgment
Dec 21, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:FIELDS, WILSON E
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Dec 21, 2023
Other
Hon. Judge:FIELDS, WILSON E
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Dec 21, 2023
Active
Hon. Creel, Ellen M.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Dec 20, 2023
Active
Hon. Swartz, Richard A.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Dec 18, 2023
Active
Hon. Badeaux, Reginald T., III
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Dec 15, 2023
Active
Hon. Zaunbrecher, Alan A.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Executory Judgment
Creditor
Judgment Enforcement
Dec 15, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:HIGGINBOTHAM, BEAU
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Dec 12, 2023
Active
Hon. Childress, Raymond S.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Dec 06, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:FOXWORTH-ROBERTS, TIFFANY
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Dec 05, 2023
Active
Hon. Badeaux, Reginald T., III
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Dec 04, 2023
Foreign,Sister-State Judgment
Hon. Judge:JOHNSON, RONALD R.
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 30, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:HIGGINBOTHAM, BEAU
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 29, 2023
Active
Hon. Zaunbrecher, Alan A.
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Nov 28, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:HIGGINBOTHAM, BEAU
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 28, 2023
Active
Hon. Badeaux, Reginald T., III
St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA
Nov 21, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:FOXWORTH-ROBERTS, TIFFANY
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 17, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:HIGGINBOTHAM, BEAU
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 15, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:FIELDS, WILSON E
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 13, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:FOXWORTH-ROBERTS, TIFFANY
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 08, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:FIELDS, WILSON E
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 06, 2023
Foreign,Sister-State Judgment
Hon. Judge:HIGGINBOTHAM, BEAU
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 03, 2023
Foreign,Sister-State Judgment
Hon. Judge:BALFOUR, KELLY
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 03, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:HIGGINBOTHAM, BEAU
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 03, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:HIGGINBOTHAM, BEAU
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Nov 03, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Other (Special Proceeding)
Oct 25, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 25, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 24, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 24, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Other
Oct 19, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:JORDEN, WILLIAM
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Oct 18, 2023
Foreign,Sister-State Judgment
Hon. Judge:JOHNSON, DONALD R.
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Oct 18, 2023
Foreign,Sister-State Judgment
Hon. Judge:BALFOUR, KELLY
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Oct 17, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 17, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 17, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 17, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 17, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 17, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Other (Special Proceeding)
Oct 16, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 16, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 16, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 16, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 13, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 13, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 13, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 12, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 12, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 11, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 11, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Premises (Liability For Condition)
Torts
Premises Liability
Oct 10, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Premises (Liability For Condition)
Torts
Premises Liability
Oct 10, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 10, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 10, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 09, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 09, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 09, 2023
Suit Status:Active
Hon. Judge:MOORE, RICHARD "CHIP"
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Oct 06, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 06, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 06, 2023
Foreign,Sister-State Judgment
Hon. Judge:JORDEN, WILLIAM
East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Civil
Oct 05, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 05, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 05, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 05, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 05, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 04, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 03, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 03, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Premises (Liability For Condition)
Torts
Premises Liability
Oct 03, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 02, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Oct 02, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Sep 29, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
Premises (Liability For Condition)
Torts
Premises Liability
Sep 29, 2023
Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish, LA
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