Most parties faced with an adverse discovery ruling have to grin and bear it. Discovery orders are not generally appealable, and a writ petition is such a longshot that unless the ruling threatens a trade secret or similarly sensitive confidential information, the writ petition hardly seems worthwhile. In H.B. Fuller Co. v Doe, case no. H030099 (May 31, 2007), California’s Sixth District Court of Appeal reminds us of a rare occasion when a discovery order is appealable.
Doe sought to quash a subpoena directed to an internet company. The subpoena sought information that would identify the person (Doe) who posted Fuller’s confidential company information on internet message boards. No lawsuit was pending in California, and Doe’s identity was apparently necessary before Fuller could commence suit in its home state of Minnesota.
In a decision limited to Doe’s motion to unseal the record and briefs on appeal, the court first addressed the issue of appealability. It found this discovery order was appealable because “the order is ancillary to litigation in another jurisdiction and operates as the last word by a California trial court on the matters at issue.” Thus, even though the court could readily have chosen to construe the appeal as a writ petition, it found it unnecessary to do so.
This is a great case to remember. Dire circumstances justifying writ review won’t always be present when a client gets hit with an unfavorable discovery order arising from litigation in another jurisdiction. Being able to appeal greatly expands the cases in which review may be invoked.