Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-145 - Refusal to Answer or Attend; Motion to Compel; Sanctions Imposed

A. If a party or deponent refuses to answer any question asked at a deposition under R20-5-142 or R20-5-143, the party asking the question shall either complete the deposition in other matters or adjourn the deposition. With notice to all persons affected by the deponent's refusal to answer a question, the party asking the question may apply to the presiding administrative law judge for an order compelling the deponent to answer the question.

B. If a party refuses to answer an interrogatory served under R20-5-144, the party serving the interrogatory may submit the interrogatory to the presiding administrative law judge and apply for an order compelling the answer.

C. If a presiding administrative law judge issues an order compelling an answer under subsection (A) or (B) and finds that a refusal to answer is without substantial justification, the presiding administrative law judge shall require the party or witness refusing to answer or the authorized representative advising that party or witness not to answer, or both of them, to pay to the party asking the question:

1. Reasonable attorney's fees incurred to obtain the order compelling the answer, and

2. Reasonable expenses that will be incurred to obtain the requested answer.

D. If a presiding administrative law judge denies a motion to compel an answer under subsection (A) or (B), and finds that the motion was made without substantial justification, the presiding administrative law judge shall require the party filing the motion, or the parties' authorized representative advising that party to make the motion, or both of them, to pay to the party or witness refusing to answer, reasonable attorney's fees incurred in opposing the motion.

E. In addition to the sanctions authorized under R20-5-157, a presiding administrative law judge may, upon a party's motion, impose the following sanctions upon a party if the party, or an officer or managing agent of that party, willfully fails to appear for a deposition after being served with proper notice of the deposition, or fails to serve answers to interrogatories after proper service of the interrogatories:

1. Strike out all or any part of a document filed by the party;

2. Dismiss the action or proceeding, or any part of the action or proceeding;

3. Order the suspension or forfeiture of compensation; or

4. Preclude the introduction of evidence.

F. The party filing a motion under subsections (A), (B), or (E) shall attach to the motion:

1. The statement required under R20-5-105(E) and

2. A proposed order that includes the relief requested and a service page with the names and addresses of all parties served.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-5-145

Former Rule 45. Amended effective March 1, 1987, filed February 26, 1987 (Supp. 87-1). R20-5-145 recodified from R4-13-145 (Supp. 95-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 3966 and 7 A.A.R. 4995, effective August 17, 2001 (Supp. 01-3).