Which statement about discovering disputes is true?

Which statement about discovering disputes is true?

• A. The court will automatically grant a motion to compel discovery without notice.
• B. A party may unilaterally decide on admissibility of discovery without court involvement.
• C. The judge's ruling on discovery can never be appealed.
• D. Courts may impose sanctions or compel discovery and impose costs to deter abuse.

Answer: (D)

Disputes over discovery are regulated by the court’s authority to manage discovery, including compelling responses and sanctioning abusive conduct. When a party resists discovery or the information sought is not produced, the court can order the necessary disclosures and can also order the payment of costs or attorney’s fees to deter misuse. This ensures discovery serves its purpose of obtaining relevant information while preventing harassment or evasion of the process. That’s why the statement about court power to compel discovery and impose sanctions or costs to deter abuse is the correct one. The other ideas don’t fit: discovery motions aren’t granted without notice and a chance to respond, so automatic grant without notice is improper; a party cannot unilaterally decide what is admissible as evidence—that determination comes from the rules of evidence and the court; and discovery rulings can be appealed in appropriate circumstances, so they are not unreviewable.

Disputes over discovery are regulated by the court’s authority to manage discovery, including compelling responses and sanctioning abusive conduct. When a party resists discovery or the information sought is not produced, the court can order the necessary disclosures and can also order the payment of costs or attorney’s fees to deter misuse. This ensures discovery serves its purpose of obtaining relevant information while preventing harassment or evasion of the process.

That’s why the statement about court power to compel discovery and impose sanctions or costs to deter abuse is the correct one. The other ideas don’t fit: discovery motions aren’t granted without notice and a chance to respond, so automatic grant without notice is improper; a party cannot unilaterally decide what is admissible as evidence—that determination comes from the rules of evidence and the court; and discovery rulings can be appealed in appropriate circumstances, so they are not unreviewable.