Super Film of America, Inc. v. UCB Films, Inc.

219 F.R.D. 649, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2855, 2004 WL 345791
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedFebruary 9, 2004
DocketNo. 02-4146-SAC
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 219 F.R.D. 649 (Super Film of America, Inc. v. UCB Films, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Super Film of America, Inc. v. UCB Films, Inc., 219 F.R.D. 649, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2855, 2004 WL 345791 (D. Kan. 2004).

Opinion

ORDER

SEBELIUS, United States Magistrate Judge.

This matter comes before the court upon defendant’s Motion to Compel discovery responses. (Doc. 43) Defendant moves the Court for an order compelling the plaintiff to produce documents within plaintiffs possession and control, documents within the possession of the counterclaim defendant, electronic versions of various documents, and documents and materials relied upon by the plaintiffs expert, Turgut Selbasti. Plaintiff opposes the motion on the grounds that it has produced all the documents it could or would be required to produce. For the reasons stated below, defendant’s Motion to Compel is granted in part and denied in part.

I. Relevant Factual Background

Plaintiff Super Film of America, Inc. (“Super Film America” or “SFA”) filed the instant suit against defendant UCB Films, Inc. (“UCB”) in the District Court of Shawnee County, Kansas, alleging that defendant breached a contract for the sale of goods when it failed to pay $115,821.20 for certain transparent film delivered to the defendant. The film in question was manufactured by Super Film Sanayi ve Tiearet A.S. (“Super Film Turkey” or “SFT”) and shipped directly to UCB. SFA negotiated the sale and acted as SFT’s representative in the United States. Defendant removed the action to federal court and counterclaimed against the plaintiff, alleging that the film delivered to UCB was defective.

On August 22, 2003, UCB served twenty-two discrete requests for production of documents on SFA. (Doc. 28). In response to a number of those requests, SFA took the position SFT might have some of the requested documents but SFA was not obligated to produce documents in the possession of SFT. (Doc. 32). On November 3, 2003, UCB filed the instant motion to compel document production. On December 1, 2003, SFA supplemented its responses to UCB’s requests for production (Doc. 50). On December 4, 2003, SFA filed its Response and Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Compel, urging the court to deny the defendant’s motion. (Doc. 54). On December 17, 2003, UCB filed its Reply Memorandum in Support of its Motion to Compel. (Doc. 57).

On January 26, 2004, the court entered an Order granting UCB leave to amend its counterclaims to join SFT as a counterclaim defendant. (Doc. 60). On January 27, 2004, UCB filed its Amended Answer to Plaintiffs Complaint and First Amended Counterclaim, adding SFT as a counterclaim defendant. (Doc. 61).

II. Discussion

A. Standards

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(1) provides that the “parties may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, [651]*651that is relevant to the claim or defense of any party ... Relevant information need not be admissible at the trial if the discovery appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”1 The 2000 amendments to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26 changed the scope of the disclosure obligation from “the subject matter involved in the pending action” to “the claim or defense of any party.” Therefore, a request for discovery mil be considered relevant under the amended rule if there is any possibility that the information sought may be relevant to a “claim or defense of any party.”2

“When the relevancy of propounded discovery is not apparent, ... its proponent has the burden to show the discovery relevant.”3 If, however, the discovery sought appears relevant, the party resisting discovery can show lack of relevance by demonstrating that the requested discovery (1) does not come within the broad scope of relevance as defined under amended Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b)(1); or (2) is of such marginal relevance that the potential harm occasioned by discovery would outweigh the ordinary presumption in favor of broad disclosure.4 Similarly, a party objecting to discovery on the basis of over-breadth must substantiate its objection, unless the request appears overly broad on its face.5 In opposing discovery on the grounds of over-breadth, a party has the burden to show facts justifying their objection by demonstrating that the time or expense involved in responding to requested discovery is unduly burdensome. “This imposes an obligation to provide sufficient detail in terms of time, money and procedure required to produce the requested documents.” 6

Under Fed.R.Civ.P. 34(a), a party may be required to produce relevant documents and tangible things that are within its “possession, custody or control.” “[Cjontrol comprehends not only possession but also the right, authority, or ability to obtain the documents.”7 Therefore, Rule 34(a) .enables a party seeking discovery to require production of documents beyond the actual possession of the opposing party if such party has retained “any right or ability to influence the person in whose possession the documents lie.”8

“Ordinarily, a sworn statement that a party has no more documents in its possession, custody or control is sufficient to satisfy the party’s obligation to respond to a request for production of documents.”9 However, if the documents sought are known to have been in the party’s possession, custody, or control, it would not suffice for that party to simply disavow their existence without adequately explaining the disposition of the documents. Without such an explanation, the requesting party would be unable to “determine whether to search elsewhere, or whether the only existing copies were destroyed, [652]*652thus making further search futile.”10

B. Analysis

In its memorandum in support of the motion to compel, UCB identifies four discrete categories of documents and materials whose production it seeks to compel:

1. Documents that are in Super Film America’s possession and control;
2. Documents that are in Super Film Turkey’s possession, but that are within Super Film America’s control;
3. Electronic versions of documents, emails, databases, and spreadsheets; and
4. Documents and materials relied upon by Super Film America’s expert, Tur-gut Selbasti, who also happens to be an employee of Super Film Turkey.11

Based on the parties’ representation, the court finds that they have attempted to resolve this dispute without court intervention in compliance with the local rules. Because these efforts appear to have failed, the court will now evaluate the defendant’s motion with respect to each of the categories set forth above.

1. Documents within SFA’s possession.

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Bluebook (online)
219 F.R.D. 649, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2855, 2004 WL 345791, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/super-film-of-america-inc-v-ucb-films-inc-ksd-2004.