96 Sanctions

If someone involved in a lawsuit doesn't follow the rules about depositions and discovery (Rules 88 through 97), the judge can punish them for it. The judge treats this failure the same way as if the person had ignored a direct court order.

The punishment can include things like telling the jury they can assume certain facts are true against that person, blocking that person from bringing up certain evidence or arguments, throwing out part or all of their case, or even deciding the case against them automatically. In serious cases, the judge could hold the person in contempt of court.

This rule matters because it gives real teeth to the discovery process. If you're supposed to show up for a deposition, answer questions, or hand over documents as required by these rules, you need to actually do it. Ignoring these obligations can hurt your case just as much as ignoring a judge's direct order would.