§ 16-21A-6 — Retention.

A registered attorney electronically filing or serving a document, or any person filing a petition for mental illness commitment, is deemed to represent that the document so filed or served is a true and correct copy of the original. The original, if in hardcopy form, shall be maintained by the filing attorney or person filing a mental illness commitment for 120 days after the date of electronic filing or service, whichever is later. Self-represented litigants electronically filing or serving a document shall maintain the original document in hardcopy form for two years after the date of electronic filing and service, whichever is later. Both attorneys and self-represented litigants shall make the original document available upon request of the court, the signatories, or other parties during the required retention period. In the event of a failure to comply with this provision the court may make such orders in regard to the failure as are appropriate under the circumstances including, but not limited to, the following: order that the electronic document be considered the original document for all purposes; prohibit the party from introducing designated matters in evidence as a result of the failure to comply; strike any relevant pleadings or parts thereof; stay further proceedings until the order is obeyed; dismiss the action or proceeding or any part thereof; order the party to pay reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, caused by the failure as the court may determine appropriate. In lieu of any of the foregoing, or in addition thereto, the court may treat such failure as a contempt of court.

Legislative History

SL 2014, ch 254 (Supreme Court Rule