Motion to Compel

A motion to compel is a legal request filed by a party in a lawsuit asking the court to order the opposing party to provide discovery responses or comply with a previous discovery order. It is typically filed when the opposing party has failed to respond to discovery requests, provided inadequate responses, or refused to produce requested documents or information. The motion must specify the discovery requests at issue and the reasons why the responses are deficient. It must also include a certification that the moving party has made a good faith effort to resolve the dispute before filing the motion. If the court grants the motion, it will order the opposing party to provide the requested discovery within a specified time frame and may impose sanctions for failure to comply. Motions to compel are an important tool for ensuring that parties comply with their discovery obligations and that all relevant evidence is available for trial.