What happens in a motion to compel hearing?

Asked by: Jeanne Stamm  |  Last update: June 13, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (70 votes)

A motion to compel is a request to the court to issue an order to compel the other party to answer a question or to produce a document or object. Timing is critical and different for various types of discovery and depends on if a response is served.

How serious is a motion to compel?

In the legal discovery process, a motion to compel plays a pivotal role when one party fails or refuses to comply with discovery requests from the opposing side. It is a formal legal request made to the court by the aggrieved party seeking enforcement of discovery obligations.

How long does a motion to compel take?

It depends if there was a hearing or not on your motion to compel. If there was not a hearing, you can expect an order on the motion generally within 30 days, depending on how busy the judge's desk is.

How to win a motion to compel?

Some of the simple tactics to follow while filing a motion to compel:
  1. Act in good Faith.
  2. Thorough Knowledge of the Case.
  3. Limit citing voluminous authorities.
  4. Avoid Personal Attacks.

What is hearing on motion to compel?

A motion to compel responses to interrogatories or requests for production is made through a motion. A motion is a request to the judge to issue an order of some sort. A written motion consists of four parts (the Notice of Motion and Motion are combined): Notice of Motion and Motion; Points and Authorities; and.

Discovery: What is a Motion to Compel?

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What happens if someone ignores a motion to compel?

If a party or party's officer, director, or managing agent fails to obey a discovery order, the court may issue further orders. A court must also order a disobedient party, the advising attorney, or both to pay expenses resulting from the failure to reply.

What to expect at a motion hearing?

Motion hearings occur in person at the courthouse or can be done via virtual hearings. During the hearing, all parties involved in the case have an opportunity to present their arguments and evidence to a judge concerning a particular motion that has been filed.

What is the basis for a motion to compel?

Consider Filing a Motion to Compel if:

A party fails to answer an interrogatory. A party's response to a discovery request is incomplete or evasive. A person fails to answer a question during a deposition. A non-party objects to a request for documents under a subpoena.

How do you win a motion hearing?

  1. Understand Judicial Attention Spans:
  2. Be Certain Your Brief and Arguments Tell the Story. ...
  3. Employ Innocence by Association. ...
  4. Avoid “Red Flag” Clues for the Judicial Reader. ...
  5. Avoid Ad Hominem Attacks and Language. ...
  6. Argue to Win. ...
  7. Never Squander Credibility.

What is the compel process?

A motion to compel is a formal request made by one party in a legal case to the court, seeking an order that the opposing party must provide certain information or take specific actions within a specified timeframe.

Does a motion to compel require a separate statement?

All discovery motions should include a notice of motion and motion. In addition, motions to compel further responses must include a separate statement and meet and confer declaration.

How long does it take a judge to rule on a motion to dismiss?

It is difficult to provide an exact answer to this question, as the amount of time it takes for a judge to rule on a motion to dismiss can vary depending on a number of factors. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for a judge to reach a decision on a motion to dismiss.

Is a motion to compel a subpoena?

A motion to compel is the method by which a subpoenaing party may compel production, if the reporter refuses to comply with the demands of the subpoena.

What is the timeline for a motion to compel?

Motion to compel further discovery responses

Notice of said motion (c) must be served within 45 days of the service of the verified response (five extra days if mailed pursuant to C.C.P. § 1013) or by a specific date agreed upon in writing by both parties; else the right to bring the motion is waived.

What consequences can result from a refusal to cooperate with an order compelling discovery?

Failure of United States to Participate in Good Faith in Discovery. Rule 37 authorizes the court to direct that parties or attorneys who fail to participate in good faith in the discovery process pay the expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by other parties as a result of that failure.

What is a motion to compel settlement?

One of the most common practices to enforce a settlement agreement is to file a motion to enforce settlement agreement in court. This motion calls on the court to enforce the agreed upon terms, and the judge has the final say. His or her role is to analyze evidence presented and listen to oral testimony by both sides.

How to prove you were not served properly?

Surveillance: You can provide surveillance footage showing you were not served at the alleged date or that the service was improper. Mail Records: If there's no mail delivered to you or if you haven't signed the receipt. It can indicate improper service.

What must you say to make a motion?

To make a motion, you must first be recognized and given the floor by the meeting chairperson or presiding officer. Once you have the floor, state the motion as “I move (state your motion here).”

What types of things does motion ask the court to do?

A motion is an application to the court made by the prosecutor or defense attorney, requesting that the court make a decision on a certain issue before the trial begins. The motion can affect the trial, courtroom, defendants, evidence, or testimony. Only judges decide the outcome of motions.

Why would a motion to compel be denied?

The declaration may also include information obtained from other parties or non-parties that would support the relevance of the discovery you seek to compel. The declaration must be filed with the notice. Failure to include the declaration will serve as a basis to deny a motion to compel further responses.

Is a motion to compel serious?

Motions to compel are often necessary to set the tone in your case and acquire the documents and information you need to win your case. Grounds: When a party who has propounded discovery believes the responses are inadequate, the propounding party may move for a motion to compel a further response.

How to fight a motion to compel?

The answering or objecting party may file a response to the motion to compel. The response must contain adequate justification for that party's objections, or argument showing why the party's answers to the discovery requests at issue were sufficient.

How do you know if your case will be dismissed?

Some signs we look for are a lack of physical evidence, gaps in the chain of custody of evidence, contradictory eyewitness accounts, or witnesses who lack credibility. If the prosecution's case is built on a shaky foundation, they often realize a dismissal or plea deal is their best option.

How long do motion hearings last?

Motion Hearings: These hearings occur when one party in the case wants the judge to make a decision on a specific aspect of the case before the trial. They can vary in length, often taking anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the complexity of the motion being discussed.

How does a lawyer ask the judge to make a decision?

Motion: How a lawyer asks the judge to make a decision. Objection: The opposing side finds fault with the question being asked the witness. Overruled: The judge, following an objection, decides the questions may continue.