How do you respond to a motion to compel in a custody case?

Answer 1

If you are involved in a lawsuit the opposing side is allowed to receive certain documents from you as part of the discovery process. The documents were probably already asked for in a Request for Production. A motion to compel is a motion to the court, which if granted will force you to produce the documents to the opposing counsel, which were asked for in the Request for Production.

AnswerA motion to compel may also apply to other forms of discovery, such as a motion to compel responses to interrogatories (written questions), a motion to compel attendance at a deposition, etc.

With regard to documents, state discovery laws may require the opponent receiving a document request to provide a "response" to your request for the production of documents. This "response" is to be distinguished from the actual production of the documents. You may have to bring a motion to compel a response if your request receives no response. If you receive some response but think it evasive, you might bring a motion to compel a further response. If you get a response, but the party refuses to produce documents it should produce in accordance with the response, your motion to compel is a motion to compel production.

If the court grants the motion to compel, and the party to whom/which the order is directed remains evasive or non-compliant, the other party may file a second motion to compel or a motion for sanctions. Depending upon the degree of noncompliance (or perhaps the attitude of the non-movant or the judge), the court has the power, within reason, to impose one or more categories of sanctions. These can range from yet another order compelling compliance (usually requiring compliance within a shorter time than the first order allowed), to attorney's fees, to deeming, for evidentiary purposes, that the material that would have been produced or stated in answers to interrogatories, was prejudicial to the non-compliant party. There is a great deal of discretion that is usually allowed the trial court judge in determining sanctions, but the sanctions must be commensurate to the violation.

Answer 2

Any "motion" is a request to a court to take some action. Motions to compel occur in the "discovery" phase of a civil case when the parties are allowed to learn about each others positions. Discovery, in general, is intended to facilitate a trial on the facts, rather than by ambush.

Discovery in a civil or criminal case is governed by rules of procedure. Among the parameters of the rules is the amount of time within which the non-propounding party has to respond to the discovery request(s) of the propounding party. The discovery can be in the form of interrogatories (written questions), or a request for production of documents. While there are other forms of discovery, these two best illustrate the function of a motion to compel.

In short, if the discovery is not provided within the requisite amount of time, or objections to the discovery not timely served within that time, the proponent of the discovery may file a motion to compel. This is a request to the court to require the recipient of the discovery to furnish it to the proponent. An order compelling the discovery generally results from the motion, which gives the party to whom the discovery was sent some additional, usually shorter, amount of time to comply. If there is no compliance with the order, further sanctions can ensue if requested.

Answer 3

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking, but I'll answer this based on what I think you mean:

If the parties in a case have hit a brick wall regarding what one party believes is discoverable, but the other party doesn't, then you file a motion to compel. You can also file it if the 28 or 30 days (depends on court) to answer interrogatories is long passed & you've attempted to get the answers. Most judges do not appreciate being dragged into the discovery phase - so, be sure you've tried to work the problem out with the other party first. Then write your motion and file it with a proposed order for the judge.

Answer 4

Get an attorney.