Legal Definitions - motion to enforce discovery

Definition: A motion to enforce discovery is a request made by a party to the court to force their opponent to respond to their discovery request. This can include answering questions or producing documents. It is also known as a motion to compel discovery.

Example: If a plaintiff in a lawsuit requests documents from the defendant as part of the discovery process, but the defendant fails to provide them, the plaintiff can file a motion to enforce discovery. This would ask the court to order the defendant to produce the requested documents.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a motion to enforce discovery can be used when one party fails to comply with the discovery process. In this case, the plaintiff is asking the court to intervene and force the defendant to provide the requested documents. This is a common tactic used in civil litigation to ensure that both parties have access to all relevant information before trial.