Civil Procedure
Oct. 20, 2026
Judges, lawyers debate tougher sanctions to curb discovery abuses
An informal coalition organized by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lawrence P. Riff is exploring ways to improve discovery practices, but judges and attorneys disagree over whether sanctions or greater cooperation offer the best solution.
What would happen if judges sanctioned attorneys $150 every time they included a general objection in a discovery response?
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lawrence P. Riff, who oversees the court's civil branch, suspects the practice would disappear.
"What if we were to start sanctioning counsel, say, $150, every time there's a general objection in a response?" Riff asked during a virtual Los Angeles County Bar Association program Monday evening...
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