Minnesota Administrative Rules

1400.6700 DISCOVERY.

Subpart 1.

Witnesses; statement by parties or witnesses.

Each party shall, within ten days of a written demand by another party, disclose the following:

A.

The names and addresses of all witnesses that a party intends to call at the hearing, along with a brief summary of each witness' testimony. All witnesses unknown at the time of said disclosure shall be disclosed as soon as they become known.

B.

Any relevant written or recorded statements made by the party or by witnesses on behalf of a party. The demanding party shall be permitted to inspect and reproduce any such statements.

C.

All written exhibits to be introduced at the hearing. The exhibits need not be produced until one week before the hearing unless otherwise ordered.

D.

Any party unreasonably failing upon demand to make the disclosure required by this subpart may, in the discretion of the judge, be foreclosed from presenting any evidence at the hearing through witnesses or exhibits not disclosed or through witnesses whose statements are not disclosed.

Subp. 2.

Discovery of other information.

Any means of discovery available pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Court of Minnesota is allowed. If the party from whom discovery is sought objects to the discovery, the party seeking the discovery may bring a motion before the judge to obtain an order compelling discovery. In the motion proceeding, the party seeking discovery shall have the burden of showing that the discovery is needed for the proper presentation of the party's case, is not for purposes of delay, and that the issues or amounts in controversy are significant enough to warrant the discovery. In ruling on a discovery motion, the judge shall recognize all privileges recognized at law.

Subp. 3.

Noncompliance.

Upon the failure of a party to reasonably comply with an order of the judge made pursuant to subpart 2, the judge may make a further order as follows:

A.

an order that the subject matter of the order for discovery or any other relevant facts shall be taken as established for the purposes of the case in accordance with the claim of the party requesting the order;

B.

an order refusing to allow the party failing to comply to support or oppose designated claims or defenses, or prohibiting that party from introducing designated matters in evidence.

Subp. 4.

Protective orders.

The judge may issue a protective order as justice requires to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense due to a discovery request. When a party is asked to reveal material considered to be proprietary information or trade secrets, or not public data, that party may bring the matter to the attention of the judge, who shall make such protective orders as are reasonable and necessary or as otherwise provided by law.

Subp. 5.

Filing.

Copies of a party's request for discovery as well as the responses to those requests and copies of discovery depositions shall not be filed with the office unless otherwise ordered by the judge or unless they are filed in support of any motion or unless they are introduced as evidence in the hearing.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 14.06; 14.131; 14.51; 15.474; 116C.66; 216E.16; 363.06; 363A.28

History:

9 SR 2276; 15 SR 1595; 26 SR 391

Published Electronically:

August 6, 2013