Litigants Must Meet & Confer to an Impasse Before Bringing Discovery Disputes to Court
Post 4889
PLAINTIFF ACTED INAPPROPRIATELY IN DISCOVERY DISPUTE
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In an insurance coverage action where Plaintiff alleged that Defendant breached its flood insurance policy by paying less than what Plaintiff asserts was the appropriate coverage amount under the policy, there was a dispute as a result of Plaintiff’s first set of interrogatories and first requests for production. On July 2, 2024, Plaintiff sought to initiate a Local Civil Rule 37 conference to discuss resolution of certain disputed items. The parties met on July 9, 2024. On July 26, 2024, Defendant sent Plaintiff a letter in response to the July 9, 2024, conference articulating Defendant’s position on certain discovery requests and agreeing to supplement its production where possible.
In Shane Collins v. American Bankers Insurance Company Of Florida, No. C23-1959-JCC, United States District Court, W.D. Washington, Seattle (August 29, 2024) the discovery dispute was resolved by the USDC finding the Plaintiff did not establish an impasse existed about the discovery discussions.
BACKGROUND
The record did not demonstrate an impasse, any subsequent conferral or attempt to confer, or any agreement in filing the Joint Submission.
DISCUSSION – Legal Standard
Parties may obtain discovery regarding any non privileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the case. If requested discovery is withheld inappropriately or goes unanswered, the requesting party may move to compel such discovery. The Court also has broad discretion to decide whether to compel discovery.
A party filing a motion to compel under Local Rule 37 may do so unilaterally or jointly. The joint option follows an expedited procedure and affords parties the benefit of same day noting. Importantly, the parties must affirmatively agree to utilize the expedited procedure.
The motion must include a certification that the moving party has “in good faith conferred or attempted to confer with the person or party failing to make disclosure or discovery in an effort to resolve the dispute without court action.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(a)(1).
A good faith effort to resolve discovery disputes requires an exchange of information until no additional progress is possible.
Plaintiff’s “Joint” Submission
Here, there is no indication that the parties agreed to file the LCR 37 Joint Submission. In fact, based on the record, it appears Plaintiff has entirely neglected the expedited procedure detailed in Local Rule 37 and proceeded without affirmative agreement from Defendant. Rather than share an initial draft with Defendant and allow Defendant seven days to insert its rebuttal, Plaintiff instead sent a final draft on July 31, 2024 and then only gave Defendant two days to respond.
Plaintiff ultimately filed the motion 12 days after it sent Defendant the “final” draft. However, the Court had no way of knowing if the parties agreed to or even complied with LCR 37’s procedural requirements in the meantime because the only record of discussion between the parties specifically regarding the motion is insignificant. Moreover, after receiving the purported final draft from Plaintiff, Defendant continued to question the need for a joint motion. The fact that Defendant questioned the need for a joint motion even after Plaintiff shared the purported final draft demonstrates the lack of agreement.
There is also no indication that the parties were at an impasse when Plaintiff filed the “joint” motion. Indeed, post-conference communications show that the parties agreed and expected that Defendant would continue to supplement its discovery responses. Ongoing discussions after an LCR 37 conference preclude a finding that no additional progress was possible. Defendant also provided Plaintiff with at least one supplemental production between the July 9, 2024, conference and the day Plaintiff filed the motion. The post-conference communications and supplemental production show the parties had not and have not reached an impasse justifying the Court’s intervention. As such, the Court concluded that the parties have not met the meet and confer certification requirements of Rule 37.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court denied the LCR 37 “Joint” Submission without prejudice.
ZALMA OPINION
Discovery in insurance disputes often bring about a lack of respect and cooperation between the parties. The courts, by rules like LCR 37, expect the litigants and their counsel to resolve their disputes – as much as possible – before seeking the assistance of the court. The parties submitted a discovery dispute to the court before they reached an impasse while meeting and conferring about the dispute. They failed to work together and the “Joint” submission was not joint and not submitted after the parties reached an impasse.
(c) 2024 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Interpleader Protects All Claimants Against Life Policy and the Insurer
Who’s on First to Get Life Insurance Proceeds
Post 5184
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Interpleader Protects All Claimants Against Life Policy and the Insurer
In Metropolitan Life Insurance Company v. Selena Sanchez, et al, No. 2:24-cv-03278-TLN-CSK, United States District Court, E.D. California (September 3, 2025) the USDC applied interpleader law.
Case Overview
This case involves an interpleader action brought by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Plaintiff-in-Interpleader) against Selena Sanchez and other defendants (Defendants-in-Interpleader).
Key Points
Plaintiff-in-Interpleader’s Application:
The Plaintiff-in-Interpleader...
A Claim by Any Other Name is not a Claim
Post 5182
It is Imperative that Insured Report Potential Claim to Insurers
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In Jeffrey B. Scott v. Certain Underwriters At Lloyd’s, London, Subscribing To Policy No. B0901li1837279, RLI Insurance Company, Certain Underwriters At Lloyds, London And The Insurance Company, Subscribing To Policy No. B0180fn2102430, No. 24-12441, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (August 25, 2025) the court explained the need for a claim to obtain coverage.
Case Background:
This appeal arises from a coverage dispute under a Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance policy. Jeffrey B. Scott, the plaintiff-appellant, was terminated from his role as CEO, President, and Secretary of Gemini Financial Holdings, LLC in October 2019. Following his termination, Scott threatened legal action against Gemini, and ...
A Claim by Any Other Name is not a Claim
Post 5182
It is Imperative that Insured Report Potential Claim to Insurers
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gfbwAsxw, See the full video at https://lnkd.in/gea_hgB3 and at https://lnkd.in/ghZ7gjxy, and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5150 posts.
In Jeffrey B. Scott v. Certain Underwriters At Lloyd’s, London, Subscribing To Policy No. B0901li1837279, RLI Insurance Company, Certain Underwriters At Lloyds, London And The Insurance Company, Subscribing To Policy No. B0180fn2102430, No. 24-12441, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (August 25, 2025) the court explained the need for a claim to obtain coverage.
Case Background:
This appeal arises from a coverage dispute under a Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance policy. Jeffrey B. Scott, the plaintiff-appellant, was terminated from his role as CEO, President, and Secretary of Gemini Financial Holdings, LLC in October 2019. Following his termination, Scott threatened legal action against Gemini, and ...
Barry Zalma: Insurance Claims Expert Witness
Posted on September 3, 2025 by Barry Zalma
The Need for a Claims Handling Expert to Defend or Prove a Tort of Bad Faith Suit
© 2025 Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE
When I finished my three year enlistment in the US Army as a Special Agent of US Army Intelligence in 1967, I sought employment where I could use the investigative skills I learned in the Army. After some searching I was hired as a claims trainee by the Fireman’s Fund American Insurance Company. For five years, while attending law school at night while working full time as an insurance adjuster I became familiar with every aspect of the commercial insurance industry.
On January 2, 1972 I was admitted to the California Bar. I practiced law, specializing in insurance claims, insurance coverage and defense of claims against people insured and defense of insurance companies sued for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. After 45 years as an active lawyer, I asked that my license to practice law be declared inactive ...
The Need for a Claims Handling Expert to Defend or Prove a Tort of Bad Faith Suit
© 2025 Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE
When I finished my three year enlistment in the US Army as a Special Agent of US Army Intelligence in 1967, I sought employment where I could use the investigative skills I learned in the Army. After some searching I was hired as a claims trainee by the Fireman’s Fund American Insurance Company. For five years, while attending law school at night while working full time as an insurance adjuster I became familiar with every aspect of the commercial insurance industry.
On January 2, 1972 I was admitted to the California Bar. I practiced law, specializing in insurance claims, insurance coverage and defense of claims against people insured and defense of insurance companies sued for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. After 45 years as an active lawyer, I asked that my license to practice law be declared inactive and became a consultant and expert witness for lawyers representing insurers and lawyers ...
APPRAISAL AWARD SETS AMOUNT OF DAMAGES RECOVERED FROM INSURER
Post 5180
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It’s a Waste of Time to Sue Your Insurer if You Don’t Have Evidence
Evidence Required to Prove Breach of Contract
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It’s a Waste of Time to Sue Your Insurer if You Don’t Have Evidence
In Debbie Beaty and Jonathan Hayes v. Homeowners Of America Insurance Company, No. 01-23-00844-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas, First District (August 26, 2025) Debbie Beaty and Jonathan Hayes filed a claim under their homeowner’s insurance policy with Homeowners of ...
