Bill > SF349

This bill introduces new rules for enforcing discovery deadlines in civil court proceedings in Iowa. The legislation specifically addresses situations where parties fail to meet the deadlines outlined in Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure 1.500 through 1.517, which govern the discovery and inspection phase of legal cases. Under this bill, courts cannot extend or waive these deadlines unless all parties mutually agree. When a party misses a deadline, the court is required to assess a civil penalty against that party, considering factors such as the severity of the violation, the resulting delay in the proceedings, and any previous deadline failures. Additionally, if the non-offending party would typically file a motion to compel (a legal request to force compliance), the court must award reasonable attorney fees, regardless of whether such a motion is actually filed. Importantly, the bill prohibits courts from waiving these civil penalties or attorney fees, and specifies that these penalties are to be considered in addition to any other remedies available under law. The goal of this legislation appears to be encouraging stricter adherence to legal timelines and providing clear consequences for procedural delays.

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https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF349